Advancing Innovation in Clinical Trials
In celebration of International Clinical Trials Day, UNSW Medicine & Health’s Clinical Research Unit and The George Institute for Global Health are hosting a panel discussion on how innovative approaches are reshaping the clinical trial field to address critical challenges, including equitable access, efficiency, and research waste.
In a discussion led by Professor David Simar, experts will cover how emerging approaches are reshaping the field of clinical trials and addressing critical challenges, including equitable access, efficiency, and research waste.
We'll cover a range of topics, from the growing field of adaptive trial designs and decentralised models to advances in statistical methods and the use of real-world data, and touch on the skills and capabilities organisations require to keep pace with rapid change, particularly in the context of emerging technologies such as AI.
This is hybrid event.
Agenda:
- Doors open: 12:00pm
- Panel Discussion and Q&A: 12:30pm - 1:30pm
- Networking and Afternoon Tea: 1:30pm - 2:30pm
Host: Professor David Simar
Deputy Dean Research Operations, UNSW Medicine & HealthProfessor David Simar is the Faculty of Medicine & Health’s Deputy Dean Research Operations, and a leading researcher in immunometabolism, exercise physiology, and cancer survivorship. His work focuses on improving the diagnosis, prevention, and management of long-term complications in cancer survivors, with a particular emphasis on the role of exercise and lifestyle interventions in enhancing health outcomes.
Professor Craig Anderson
Director, Brain Health Program, The George InstituteProfessor Craig Anderson is the Director, Brain Health Program, The George Institute, Professor of Neurology and Epidemiology at UNSW Sydney and a practising neurologist at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. He is a NHMRC Senior Investigator Fellow and an internationally recognised leader in stroke research. He leads the ACT-GLOBAL adaptive platform trial, a major international study evaluating scalable interventions to improve outcomes after acute stroke. His broader work spans large-scale clinical trials that have shaped global guidelines for stroke treatment and prevention.
Dr Chris Gianacas
Head of Biostatistics and Data Management, The George Institute AustraliaDr Christopher Gianacas is Head of Biostatistics and Data Management, Australia at The George Institute for Global Health, where he leads a team of 18 biostatisticians and data managers. He holds a Doctor of Public Health from UNSW and a Conjoint Lecturer appointment at UNSW's School of Population Health. With 13 years of experience in academic clinical research, Dr Gianacas specialises in the design and analysis of investigator-initiated randomised trials, spanning cardiovascular, cardiometabolic, oncology, respiratory, neurology, and critical care medicine. He leads an internal Bayesian methods group and regularly presents educational seminars on adaptive and novel methodologies. He currently holds over $3.7 million in competitive funding as Chief Investigator and is a methodological peer reviewer for PLOS Medicine.
Professor Louisa Jorm
Director, Centre for Big Data Research in HealthProfessor Louisa Jorm is a leading Australian epidemiologist and health data scientist, serving as the Foundation Director of the Centre for Big Data Research at UNSW. She specialises in using large-scale, linked administrative health data to generate real-world evidence for improving healthcare, cardiovascular risk prediction, and end-of-life care.
Danielle Somers
Director of Research Methods and Clinical Trials, Office for Health and Medical Research, NSW Ministry of HealthDanielle Somers is the Director of Research Methods and Clinical Trials in the Office for Health and Medical Research in the NSW Ministry of Health, leading a team which includes Clinical Trials NSW, the Clinical Trial Management System, the Research Ethics and Governance Unit and the Rural Regional and Remote Clinical Trial Enabling Program. Danielle is an international development and public health research professional with over 25 years of experience in the higher education and government sectors. Passionate about access and equity in healthcare, Danielle is committed to supporting Australia’s pivotal role in advancing innovative medical research to improve global health outcomes.