Healthy seniors wanted for new trials

Barwon Health’s Clinical Trial team is currently seeking generally healthy people aged 60 years and over to trial a new vaccine to prevent Clostridium difficile (commonly known as C. diff).

C. diff is a significant cause of infectious diarrhoea and can be limiting in terms of lifestyle, with minimal treatment options currently available a preventative vaccine is ideal.

The clinical trial unit at Barwon Health has been running for 20 years and covers a wide range of areas, including endocrinology (diabetes, osteoporosis and obesity), infectious diseases and paediatric trials (new vaccines, antibiotics, antivirals).

The unit has successfully been involved in all phases of clinical trials in these areas with a majority of these trial medicines now available.

Clinical trials rely on participants to volunteer to enable the trial of new medicines which will one day be available to the general public.

Being on a trial is a great way to get access to new medications well before you can buy them, they are provided for free as part of the trial and participants have access to specialists in the respective fields whilst participating in a trial.

Most people who get C. diff diarrhoea are older and have spent time in hospital; regularly visit their doctor/specialist; live in a nursing home; have spent time in rehabilitation or have taken antibiotics – in the last 12 weeks.

The study involves five visits over seven months, if you meet any of the above criteria, please contact Kate Ellis on 03 4215 2878 or [email protected].

The unit appreciate and thank all those current and past participants for donating their time on these trials, without volunteers they couldn’t get new medicines developed to help those in need.

Your participation helps future generations, don’t forget to regularly check the Barwon Health website at barwonhealth.org.au and search ‘currently recruiting clinical trials’ to see if you can assist in any of the trials.