Three CTC Teams Secure MRFF NCRI Innovative Trials Grants

05/06/25

The NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre (CTC) has achieved a significant milestone, with three of its research teams awarded funding under all three Innovation Enabler streams of the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) National Critical Research Infrastructure (NCRI) Initiative. This recognition underscores the CTC’s national leadership in advancing clinical trial methodologies and infrastructure.

Driving Innovation in Adaptive and Platform Trials

Adaptive and platform trials are transforming the clinical research landscape, offering flexible, efficient approaches that respond to emerging data in real time. The CTC has been at the forefront of this evolution, pioneering trial designs that accelerate the development of effective therapies and improve patient outcomes.

Three Projects, One Vision for Better Health

The awarded projects span critical areas of unmet medical need:

• iSEARCH
  Led by Professor William Tarnow-Mordi, the iSEARCH pre-platform pilot has received $299,252 to initiate a neonatal-focused National Adaptive Platform Trial. This inception project aims to explore novel interventions that could significantly improve outcomes for newborns, addressing longstanding gaps in paediatric care.
• PODIUM
  Under the leadership of Professor Anthony Keech, the PODIUM study has been awarded $4,974,523 to establish a new adaptive platform trial. This trial will evaluate multiple therapies for patients suffering from diabetic foot ulcers, to identify the most effective treatments to increase healing and reduce adverse outcomes.
• BEAT-Calci
  Honorary Affiliate Professor Rathika Krishnasamy, with CTC lead Professor Meg Jardine, will extend the BEAT-Calci platform trial with $2,556,060 in funding. This study targets calciphylaxis—a rare, painful condition affecting patients with kidney failure—by testing promising treatments within an adaptive framework.

Building the Future of Clinical Research

These grants will strengthen the CTC’s infrastructure for innovative trials, enabling smarter, more inclusive research systems. The funding will support the development of trial platforms that are not only scientifically rigorous but also responsive to the needs of patients and clinicians.

Professor Meg Jardine, Director of the NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, reflected on the achievement, “We are incredibly proud to have secured funding across all three streams of the MRFF NCRI Innovation Enablers program. This support empowers us to continue pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in clinical trials, ensuring that our research delivers real-world impact for patients and communities.”