PD and Training Opportunities

Clinical Trial Protocol Design self-paced short course delivered by the University of Melbourne in partnership with the VCCC Alliance.

Start anytime, self-paced, approx. 20 hours

Scholarships are available to AWH staff! EOIs can be sent to the Research Office.

Visualising Health and Medical Data meeting delivered online by Melbourne Academic Centre for Health,

When: August 19^th, 12:30 - 1:30pm AEST

Click here to register for the meeting.

Resources for Clinical Trials Data Sharing and Reuse provided by the Australian Research Data Commons.

Explore resources for sharing and reusing clinical trials data, including Health Data Australia, guides and other tools.

Click here to view these resources.

Missed our Grand Rounds presentation in May? Check it out: Getting Started in QI and Research

For other PD and training opportunities, visit the Regional Research Training Network website.

Clinical Trials News

PROMPT study with Alfred Health

AWH is preparing to participate in the Perioperative Medicine Platform Trial (PROMPT), an international clinical trial investigating ways to reduce surgical site infections and improve outcomes for patients undergoing major surgery. The first study domain being implemented at AWH focuses on optimising the amount of oxygen patients receive during surgical procedures lasting more than two hours.

The study is being led locally by Dr Rob Smith, with support from anaesthetic, surgical, nursing and research teams across the health service. Patients undergoing eligible surgical procedures will be included in the study, which will collect information before surgery, during admission and at follow-up after discharge.

The Research Office is currently working with ward staff, perioperative services and clinical teams to establish workflows and education to support study commencement in August 2026.

AVERT DOSE closes up at AWH

AVERT DOSE enrolled 1000 patients across 50 hospitals in seven countries, including Australia, Brazil, India, Ireland, Malaysia, Singapore, and the UK.

AVERT DOSE has shown that these [tested] interventions can be delivered safely in multiple settings across the world, including in low- and middle-income countries.

The trial has been recognised as the best designed and best conducted trial in rehabilitation and the findings will not only inform clinical practice but how studies like this will be conducted in the future.

Read more here.

Contact our Clinical Trials Coordinator, Kate Reid, for any clinical trial matters.

Research Office News & Reminders

Updates to the HREA form on ERM

Please note that from September 25th, 2026, the HREA form will be updated to v1.6 to align with the revised National Statement. Please ensure that data files from v1.5 HREA applications are saved before this date.

New applications will only be able to use v1.6 HREA forms. Any applications currently in progress may need to start a new application using v1.6. 

If you have any questions about these changes, please contact ethics@awh.org.au.

Project Submission dates for 2026

The next Ethics Meetings are on Wed 2 September, Wed 7 October and Wed 7 October. All new projects should be lodged on ERM at least four weeks before the meeting. See the website for all the 2026 dates and submission deadlines.

Contact research@awh.org.au for assistance.

New Good Clinical Practice certification

The updated Good Clinical Practice (GCP) certification standard is the ICH E6(R3) guideline. In Australia, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) adopted ICH E6(R3) with a transition period ending on January 13, 2027.

When you need to renew your GCP, please use the link provided on the Research Office website.

Staffing Update - Farewell Kinjal

VCCC Internship Conclusion

July marked the end of AWH's role as host to Kinjal Patel (PhD), who has concluded her VCCC SKILLED internship. Kinjal was placed in the Research Office as a Clinical Trials Administration Officer, and has become a highly skilled member of our team. Kinjal was involved in several clinical trials, including CARISTA, TAP and DETECT - the latter using her skills in lab research to spin samples and ensure our newly-acquired centrifuge was cooperating!

As part of her internship, Kinjal completed a major quality improvement project at AWH, choosing to formulate Standard Operating Procedures for Clinical Trial Pharmacy. Check out the link to see her final presentation to VCCC. We will miss Kinjal and wish her all the best in her bright future career in clinical trials research.

Scholarships & Grants

AWH Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Scholarship
Up to $5000 to support Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander staff undertaking education, training, professional development, or research opportunities.

For more information, click here.

Upcoming NHMRC Grants
Investigator grant applications are still open until July 29^th 2026. 

Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies grant applications will open September 9^th 2026.

Upcoming MRFF grants
Several MRFF grants are now open for applications. See website for the full list and their deadlines.

CASS Foundation Travel Award
Funding for researchers to attend international conferences between November 1^st 2026 and May 31^st 2027.

Call for Research Supervisors 2027

UNSW medical students undertake a research project as part of their 4^th year studies. Mentoring students throughout their research year is a great way to progress your own research ideas, and support the next generation of medical professionals.

Supervising an Independent Learning (research) project (ILP) or Honours student involves some preparations during 2026 and mentoring throughout 2027.

If you're interested, please contact our UNSW/AWH Research Coordinator, Marina, at m.vanleeuwen@unsw.edu.au and check out this brochure.

Upcoming Forums, Conferences and Workshops

EOI: VCCC Alliance Industry-Clinical Translation Forum

EOI closes THIS THURSDAY, 5pm, 20 August 2026
Find out more here

Forum details: This forum is designed to support focused discussion, curated introductions and practical follow-up around translation, clinical trials and industry-clinical collaboration.

Date: Wednesday, 25 November 2026
Time: 4:30 – 7.00pm
Location: Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre Building, Parkville, VIC

18^th National Rural Health Conference

Date: 14-16 September 2026
Location: Adelaide, SA

Theme: Equity & Transformation: shaping rural health, disability & ageing.

Earlybird registrations are still open!

14^th Health Services Research Conference

Date: 2-4 December 2026
Location: Wellington, NZ

Theme: The Promise and Future of Health Services Research.

Earlybird registrations are now open!

For more conferences, visit National Rural Health Alliance and MJA Calendar of Conferences.

Recent Publications

AWH authors: Stacey Rich, Anna Griffith, Chi Li, Christopher Steer, Diane Davey, Nicole Webb, Tanya Dawe, Craig Underhill

AWH authors: Madeline Gillies, Department of Surgery

Library News

New Research and Quality Improvement project approval pathway tool

A tool to help AWH staff identify the approval pathway most appropriate for their quality improvement or research project. Detailed steps for each approval pathway are provided. You can submit the form to the Research Office to request assistance. This tool provides general guidance only.