About clinical trials in SA

South Australia (SA) is an ideal location for conducting clinical trials due to the population size, geographic location and world class infrastructure and expertise.

South Australia is home to outstanding researchers working in health services, research institutes, universities and industry. The clinical trials sector contributes to better health outcomes for South Australian’s by providing access to the latest advanced treatments. Clinical trials also contribute economic benefits to the state.

Clinical research trials are conducted at major public hospitals and other institutions across South Australia. These trials typically investigate the safety and/or efficacy of medical interventions, including medicines, therapeutic devices, surgery, and education and behavioural therapies.

The Australian Government is leading a body of work to improve the Australian clinical trials environment with a view to improving health outcomes and increasing international investment in Australia.

The Office for Research (OfR), based in the SA Department for Health and Wellbeing, has received funding through the Encouraging More Clinical Trials in Australia project to support the ongoing redesign of clinical trials and related research systems and processes.

Key initiatives

The Department will be working collaboratively to support a range of key initiatives, including:

• Developing a strategic, streamlined approach to clinical trials in South Australia by working closely with key stakeholders, including the Local Health Networks (LHNs), Health Translation SA, Adelaide BioMed City, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), South Australian universities, and the health and medical industries sector.
• Increasing access to clinical trials closer to home for rural, regional and remote communities, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, through participation in the Australian Teletrial Program.
• Implementing Research GEMS, a new research ethics and governance management system for SA Health, with enhanced data collection and reporting capability that will support expanded clinical trials metrics collection, and support evaluation of national improvement efforts. 
• Funding Australian Clinical Trials Education Centre (A-CTEC), a new clinical trials education and training program that is now available to all South Australians at no cost to the end user.
• Supporting the implementation of the Clinical Trials Governance Framework across SA Health.
• Developing the South Australian clinical trials portal, a central point of contact to promote clinical trials conducted in SA, supports patient recruitment to clinical trials, and provide relevant information for researchers, coordinators, sponsors and participants.
• Actively engaging with the Australian Commission for Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC) and the national consultations process to develop the One Stop Shop and the National Clinical Trials Front Door.

As this work progresses, it is anticipated that other priority areas will be identified that will require further attention.

Further information

Please contact the Office for Research in the SA Department for Health and Wellbeing to obtain more information about conducting a clinical trial in South Australia.

Office for Research, SA Department for Health and Wellbeing.
Phone: (08) 8226 7235
Email: Health.DHAResearch@sa.gov.au