Ramsay Newsroom

The Ramsay Clinical Trials Network is currently conducting more than 250 clinical trials across its network of 20 sites throughout New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia. 

Ramsay Hospital Research Foundation CEO, Nicola Ware, said investing in clinical trials was critical to providing high quality, leading care. 

“Research and clinical trials play an important role in the future of health care while also providing direct benefits and improved outcomes for participating patients,” Ms Ware said. 

“As well as helping shape the future of health care testing and treatment options, it can also offer patients early access to potentially life-saving treatments. This can be particularly beneficial for patients with rare conditions where treatment options are still limited.”

The Ramsay Clinical Trials Network has grown significantly since launching in 2017, with the support of the Ramsay Hospital Research Foundation. Five new sites have been added to the network in the past 12 months, and current trials are up 11 per cent from the same time last year.

“We expect the growth of activity in the Clinical Trials Network to continue, enhancing the opportunities for Ramsay patients to participate in a clinical trial in any discipline,” Ms Ware said. 

The newest sites in the Ramsay Clinical Trials Network include:

The Ramsay Clinical Trials Network undertakes research in four key areas – Cancer (oncology and haematology), Orthopaedics, Mental Health and Cardiology – as well as other therapeutic areas. 

One trial currently underway at Ramsay’s Hollywood Private Hospital in Western Australia is the network’s first CAR-T cell study. CAR-T cells are T cells genetically engineered to recognise and kill cancer cells. 

The study, involving patients with relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma, is evaluating how lymphodepletion (a short course of chemotherapy to kill your T cells) differs when using chemotherapy medications fludarabine and cyclophosphamide alone, versus using them in conjunction with ALLO-647 – an antibody designed to target certain white blood cells.

The study hopes to contribute to the future survival rate of people diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Ramsay Clinic Albert Road in Victoria is working to improve the lives of patients with mental health conditions, including serving as the most significant contributor in a clinical trial called CAEDT-BD. The trial is investigating whether blood pressure and heart disease medication, Candesartan, can help to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life for people with bipolar depression. 

To view all trials currently underway at Ramsay sites, you can:

Anyone interested in volunteering for a clinical trial should contact the Ramsay Hospital Research Foundation on (02) 9433 1402.