Research and clinical trials in Murrumbidgee
We are a growing centre for research and clinical trials that improve access to healthcare for our patients and communities, closer to home.
Research Strategy in Murrumbidgee
We are committed to high quality research that benefits our communities and builds on the strengths of our staff and research partners.
Research Framework 2022-2027
The Murrumbidgee LHD Research Framework 2022-2027 (PDF 2.97MB) describes the strategic approach we are taking to ensure that research in our district meets the needs of our communities.
The Research Framework aligns with the Murrumbidgee LHD Strategic Plan 2021-2026 (PDF 7.15MB), with its four strategic directions of holistic health and wellbeing; lifting health outcomes; locally led reform; and workforce at its best.
We are focussing on research that will help priority populations including children; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; culturally and linguistically diverse communities; older people including the frail and aged; and those with a lived experience of mental health problems.
We are growing the capacity and capability of our workforce to undertake research; and strengthening research networks and collaborations in our region.
Research Ethics and Governance in Murrumbidgee
All research in Murrumbidgee is undertaken in accordance with national standards and state guidelines of ethical conduct.
All research in Murrumbidgee is conducted in accordance with the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research, issued by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).
Approval of research applications involves two steps:
- Scientific and ethical approval through a Public Health Organisation Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC)
- Site governance approval
Applications for ethics and site governance approval must be submitted via the Research Ethics and Governance Information System (REGIS).
The Office for Health and Medical Research (OHMR) have created a Research Handbook, which contains valuable information about starting a research project in a NSW Health organisation. The NHMRC also has templates for Study Protocols and Participant Information Sheet and Consent Forms.
It is recommended that you meet with the Murrumbidgee LHD Research Office to discuss your project before you submit your application in REGIS. Please contact the Murrumbidgee LHD Research Officeto arrange a pre-submission meeting.
Murrumbidgee LHD has an agreement with the Greater Western Human Research Ethics Committee (GWHREC), who review and approve ethics applications for our district. Submit your ethics application for Murrumbidgee LHD via REGIS to the Greater Western HREC.
Refer to the Greater Western HREC webpage for a Guide for Researchers, and a list of HREC meeting dates.
If your project already has ethics approval from a Public Health Organisation HREC, and you wish to undertake your project at Murrumbidgee LHD, please refer to the section about governance applications.
All research that takes place in Murrumbidgee LHD must be reviewed by the Research Governance Manager and authorised by the Chief Executive or Delegate before the project starts.
Before seeking governance authorisation, Murrumbidgee LHD must be listed as an approved site on the HREC approval email for your project. Depending on the location(s) at which the project will be undertaken, the site name(s) should be listed as:
- Murrumbidgee Local Health District (site)
- Wagga Wagga Base Hospital
- Griffith Base Hospital
If Murrumbidgee LHD is not listed as a site on the HREC approval, complete an ethics amendment to add the Murrumbidgee LHD site(s). This must be done before submitting the site governance application in REGIS.
Site Specific Assessment (SSA)
SSA applications must be submitted via REGIS.
Please refer to the Murrumbidgee LHD Governance Checklist (PDF 164.43KB)to ensure you have included all necessary supporting documentation with your SSA application.
It is essential that you select a Department and Head of Department (HOD) in Part C of the SSA application form. If you submit the SSA without selecting a Department and HOD, the application cannot progress to review and authorisation.
If you are unsure about which HOD to select, please contact the Murrumbidgee LHD Research Office [add link to ‘Contact Us’ section below].
It is possible to submit ethics and SSA applications in REGIS at the same time, however we advise that you wait until after you receive ethics approval before submitting your SSA application. Ethics approval must be finalised before SSA authorisation can occur.
A project must not start in Murrumbidgee LHD until the applicant has received written notice of SSA authorisation.
Access Requests
Projects that require access to participants, tissue or data but do not involve research being conducted at a Murrumbidgee LHD facility may be suitable for site governance authorisation via Access Request instead of SSA.
Details about Access Request applications, including a downloadable NSW Health Access Request form, are available from the Office for Health and Medical Research.
If you are unsure whether your project is suitable for authorisation via Access Request, please contact the Murrumbidgee LHD Research Office.
If your research primarily involves Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples you must obtain ethics approval from both the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council Human Research Ethics Committee (AH&MRC HREC) and the Greater Western HREC.
The AH&MRC HREC review process may take longer than the Greater Western HREC review but you can apply to both HRECs at the same time. Any Greater Western HREC approval would include the condition that the study cannot start until AH&MRC HREC approval has been given.
A project that primarily involves Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples cannot receive SSA authorisation until AH&MRC HREC approval has been obtained.
Aboriginal Health Impact Statement
If you wish to conduct research that relates primarily to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, you need to submit a NSW Aboriginal Health Impact Statement. Please submit this form to Murrumbidgee LHD Aboriginal Health (MLHD-WWBH-AboriginalHealthImpactStatements@health.nsw.gov.au).
Murrumbidgee LHD Research Office
Tel: (02) 5943 2014
Email: MLHD-research@health.nsw.gov.au
Clinical Trials in Murrumbidgee
Murrumbidgee LHD takes part in a growing number of clinical trials, to improve health care options for our patients, closer to home.
Learn about clinical trials in Murrumbidgee LHD and find out how to establish a clinical trial here.
Murrumbidgee LHD is part of the Rural, Regional and Remote (RRR) Clinical Trial Enabling Program (CTEP), which delivers increased and more equitable access to clinical trials for patients in rural, regional, and remote NSW and the ACT.
The Murrumbidgee LHD Clinical Trials Enabling Unit (CTEU) has been established to provide more opportunities for researchers, universities and collaborative groups to be involved with clinical trials, while providing better access to trials for our patients.
We have a range of clinical trials in progress across various specialties including emergency medicine, infectious diseases, pharmacy, paediatrics, oral health, rehabilitation and cardiology.
Trial Feasibility
Researchers and sponsors who wish to set up a clinical trial site in Murrumbidgee should contact the Murrumbidgee LHD Research Office to discuss trial feasibility. We will then share relevant feasibility documentation for you to complete.
Site Specific Assessment (SSA)
Clinical trials that have approval from a Public Health Organisation Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) need site governance authorisation via REGIS before they can begin or be conducted in Murrumbidgee LHD.
Before seeking governance authorisation, Murrumbidgee LHD must be listed as an approved site on the HREC approval email. Depending on the location(s) at which the clinical trial will be undertaken, the site name(s) should be listed as:
- Murrumbidgee Local Health District (site)
- Wagga Wagga Base Hospital
- Griffith Base Hospital
If Murrumbidgee LHD is not listed as a site on the HREC approval, complete an ethics amendment to add the Murrumbidgee LHD site(s). This must be done before submitting the site governance application in REGIS.
Please refer to the Murrumbidgee LHD Governance Checklist for Clinical Trials (PDF 186.81KB) to ensure you have included all supporting documentation with your SSA application.
Any clinical trial that meets all the following criteria must be entered into the NSW Health Statewide CTMS, to ensure streamlined participant oversight, financial management and reporting:
1. The clinical trial meets the World Health Organisation (WHO) definition of a clinical trial which involves prospectively assigning human participants or groups to health-related interventions to evaluate the effects on health outcomes.
2. The clinical trial is conducted at a NSW Health public facility or service, by a NSW Health employee or contingent worker, requiring an SSA within that district.
3. SSA authorisation is received on, or after, September 1st, 2023.
4. The clinical trial captures individual patient data.
Setting up a clinical trial in the CTMS forms part of the site governance approval process in Murrumbidgee LHD. Guidance can be provided by the Murrumbidgee LHD Clinical Trials Coordinator. Contact the Murrumbidgee LHD Research Office to discuss CTMS requirements.
Staff engaged in clinical trials in Murrumbidgee LHD require GCP certification to ensure they are working to international best practice. It is also a requirement for accreditation under the National Clinical Trials Governance Framework. NSW Health offers online GCP training for all staff through independent education providers.
Murrumbidgee LHD Research Office
Tel: (02) 5943 2014
Email: MLHD-research@health.nsw.gov.au