By Luke Voogt
An “all-time high level” of clinical trials at Barwon Health is establishing Geelong’s credentials as a medical research hub, according to state government.
In the past 12 months the health provider was involved in about 200 clinical trials involving 700 participants, including an international COVID-19 vaccine candidate trial.
The phase two trial was the first to test American biotech company Novavax’s vaccine candidate on participants aged 60 to 84, the Independent revealed in August.
A local team is also set to begin a nationally-significant study into the biological, physiological and psychological impacts of COVID-19 infection on a regional population.
The researchers from Barwon Health, Deakin University and the Geelong Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases received funding from state government’s COVID-19 Research Fund for the study.
Other trials in the past 12 months included treatments for diabetes, cardiology, stroke and respiratory illness.
“Clinical trials are vital to providing access to new and emerging therapies for people in the Barwon region,” Barwon Health chief executive Frances Diver said.
“We are expecting to grow our research footprint, ultimately delivering better care for our community.”
Medical Research Minister Jaala Pulford visited University Hospital Geelong yesterday to promote Barwon Health’s work.
“There is ground-breaking work being done in Geelong in medical research and clinical trials,” she said.
“The impact can be immediate for individuals while the potential long-term benefits for the wider community are immense.”
The state government has invested $14.7 million in 17 dedicated coronavirus research projects across Victoria.
“Growing the number of clinical trials and medical research projects conducted locally not only provides access to life-improving treatments, it also supports economic growth,” Geelong MP Christine Couzens said.
“The dedicated workforce at Barwon Health cannot be praised highly enough for their efforts to look after us now and in striving to create a healthier future for the community,” South Barwon MP Darren Cheeseman added.
