Clinical trials medicine is good medicine.
But how can we ensure that clinical trials are accessible to as many Victorians as possible while remaining economically viable at scale?
The answer may lie in a novel and emerging clinical trial methodology: Registry-based Clinical Trials (Reg-CTs).
Reg-CTs work by combining conventional trial methodology with a clinical registry, enabling researchers to find answers to real-world clinical questions. Reg-CTs have many distinct advantages:
New trial methodologies like Reg-CTs and teletrials are showing great promise in their ability to answer questions in real-world populations. However, barriers including lack of awareness and clinician apprehension are standing in the way of their full implementation, particularly in less traditional areas such as radiology, surgery and allied health.
Duncan Colyer, Senior Manager, Clinical Research at the VCCC Alliance said Reg-CTs offer an important point of difference to more traditional trial methodologies.
“Embracing the power of Registry-based Clinical Trials is a key step for Victoria to continue delivering world-leading cancer care and outcomes,” he said.
“At a patient level, the benefits of increased access to trials are obvious, but one of the key benefits of higher participation is that we’ll actually create a more desirable trial destination for new therapeutics due to the diversity of our population.
“This is really where the strength of Reg-CT and teletrial methodology comes to the fore.”
Building upon previous work supporting Reg-CTs in the Strategic Research Plan (2017-2020), the VCCC Alliance has utilised a multi-pronged approach to drive awareness of this emerging methodology:
The VCCC Alliance is also currently developing a new Registry-based Clinical Trial Toolkit, which will contain information and a suite of bespoke online educational modules through the VCCC Alliance Centre for Cancer Education. Sign up here to find out more.
Register for our upcoming Monday Lunch Livestream on 14 August, where a line-up of clinical trial experts led by WEHI’s Professor Peter Gibbs will explore pragmatic solutions to the barriers faced by registry-based trials and teletrials amidst the increasingly complex landscape of cancer clinical trials.
