Pilot Implementation of the Australasian Tele-Trial Model

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Access to clinical trials for people diagnosed with cancer is a core component of providing optimal cancer care through specialist cancer centres, hospitals and other treatment facilities. Patients living outside of major metropolitan centres face many barriers in accessing clinical trials.

Barriers to participation include the limited availability of trial sites closer to home and the increased cost and inconvenience of travel to major centres where the trials are taking place.

The Clinical Oncology Society of Australia (COSA) developed the Australasian Tele-Trial Model in consultation with clinical trial sponsors, clinicians, health administrators and regulatory bodies. The project to pilot the implementation of the Model will establish feasible and effective tele-health strategies at several sites across Australia to increase access to clinical trials closer to home, while at the same time ensuring the proper conduct of cancer clinical trials.

The project developed National Tele trial Principles and standard operating procedures for clinical trials and tele trials. These documents have been endorsed by all states and territories, together with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). In October 2020, the project received a $75.2 million Federal Government grant “to give patients access to clinical trials where they live”.


StateNew South Wales
Consortium lead

Clinical Oncology Society of Australia (COSA)

Consortium members

Rare Cancers Australia, Cancer Voices Australia, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine (AITHM), The Garvan Institute of Medical Research, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI), Icon Group, c/Icon Consolidated Holdings P/L, St John of God Hospital, Medicines Australia, AbbVie Pty Ltd, Janssen, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Australia Pty Ltd & Pfizer Australia Pty Ltd

MTPConnect grant $115,000
Industry contribution $297,233
Project duration August 2017 - September 2020 (Finished)
Contact cosa@cancer.org.au

To learn more about COSA, click here  |  Twitter: @COSAoncology

Check out some resources on COSA's tele-trial model.

Listen to the MTPConnect Podcast, which features COSA CEO Marie Malica and Prof Sabe Sabesan.

Read about the final report published on 20 May 2021 on the completion of the project to pilot the implementation of the Australasian Tele-Trial Model.