New clinical research core to help take research from benchtop to bedside

“The clinical research core brings together Malaghan staff with expertise in running human clinical studies and trials and working with human ethics committees,” says Brittany Lavender, new head of the clinical research core. 

Previously, lab groups relied on knowledge and experience within their own teams to advance research to clinical stages. 

Brittany Lavender

“The role of the core is to provide consistent knowledge, advice and support to all areas at the institute that are working on research that could one day be used in a clinical study or trial,” she says.

“Creating a strong platform for lab groups to make their clinical research more efficient and aligned with best practice supports our strategic goal of delivering world-class transformative science.”

Drawing on knowledge and expertise built over years running clinical trials and studies, including the ENABLE CAR T-cell trials, the core will provide support in three key areas: standardising documentation and processes, advising on clinical trial design, and providing support for administrative tasks. 

“One of the key aspects is facilitating knowledge sharing through advising,” says Brittany. “We can help research groups from planning, grant writing and study design through to human ethics applications and practical implementation of their studies and trials.”

Clinical Director Professor Robert Weinkove says the core will play a key role in enabling more research conducted at the Malaghan to progress into early-phase clinical trials and studies.

“We have gained tremendous experience through running clinical trials and observational studies at Malaghan. By consolidating this expertise, our procedures and information systems within the clinical research core, we can help Malaghan researchers design innovative trials and observational studies more rapidly, and run them more effectively. 

“This will allow us to not only conduct important scientific research, but to translate these discoveries to improve the health of New Zealanders.”