LATEST NEWS: 27 MAY 2025

TROG members and staff marked Clinical Trials Day 2025 on 20 May with a range of colourful celebrations, highlighting the crucial value of clinical trials to advance medical science, including in the area of radiation therapy.

The annual day is an opportunity to recognise the many advances that are made in medicine as a result of clinical trials, and to acknowledge and thank all the people behind trials – from the clinicians and researchers to data managers and trial co-ordinators and most importantly, the participants.

Since TROG’s inception in 1989, we have been involved in more than 115 clinical trials involving more than 15,500 participants from Australia, New Zealand and globally.

In keeping with the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) theme for the day – ‘Powered by Purpose”– we asked some of our TROG Board Members to nominate what powers them in their work on clinical trials.

TROG President and Board Chair A/Prof Puma Sundaresan said she was: “Powered by a commitment to evidence generation to guide patient care and improve outcomes”. while TROG Scientific Committee Chair A/Prof Hien Lee nominated: “Powered by making exciting discoveries that make a difference”.

Board Director Prof Georgia Halkett said she was: “Powered by improving education & support for people with cancer and their carers”, and fellow Board Director Prof Annette Haworth said she was: “Powered by technological advances in cancer treatments”.

We shared resources about clinical trials with all our 28 Facility Alliance Members, and many marked the day with celebratory events for staff or to help educate consumers about clinical trials.

The radiation oncology staff at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth, WA, set up two stands to mark Clinical Trials Day, with the aim of not only reaching out to cancer patients but to the wider hospital community as well. (Pictured left).

At Royal Hobart Hospital’s WP Holman Clinic, TROG Management Accountant Narelle Hagger enjoyed a celebratory morning tea with Director of Radiation Oncology Dr Marketa Scala and fellow staff (pictured above).

We want to thank all TROG members for their invaluable support of our clinical trials to advance knowledge and improve the experiences and outcomes for so many people living with cance. 

• Read about TROG’s clinical trials day celebrations in Hunter Headline.