Clinical trials pilot program a gamechanger for regional patients

In 2015, he was stunned to learn he had melanoma. It was picked up through a routine health check for a new job.

He had no choice but to make the gruelling 560km round-trip from his home to The Alfred for almost six years.

The melanoma was so aggressive that he asked to go on a clinical trial to be proactive in preventing it from coming back.

“I had two options. I could go home and see what happens or go on a clinical trial to try and stop this thing,” he said.

Steve went on to marry Lauren, become a father, and he’s built a career as a business development executive for a large, global company.

But, also in this time, he’s been on five clinical trials to beat his cancer and he is extremely grateful to his clinical care team at The Alfred.

The most challenging bit, he said, wasn’t the trial itself. Rather, it was the long drives Steve had to navigate because clinical trials were not available close to his home.

“It took a big mental toll. Before I met my wife I travelled alone, which was especially hard when I felt really sick,” Steve said. “After I met Lauren, it still wasn’t always realistic for her to come with me. Having a support person helps a lot.”

While Steve’s journey to access clinical trials was hard at times, many patients living in regional Victoria now have a different experience.

In 2020, Alfred Health launched its pilot program TrialHub, funded by the Australian Government to help people like Steve get access to local clinical trials.

Steve’s nearest hospital, Latrobe Regional Health, has been part of the program since the beginning and they now have a number of cancer clinical trials open for patients.

TrialHub is an Australian-first partnership model where a metro hospital with a large clinical trial offering, partners with regional and rural hospitals to support them with what they need to open their own clinical trial unit.

Six regional, rural and outer metro hospitals are currently participating in the program - Bendigo Health, Peninsula Health, Latrobe Regional Health Northern Health, Bass Coast Health, and Mildura Public Base Hospital. 

The goal is to reduce the travel and mental burden for these patients, and provide more opportunities for treatment closer to home.

Four years into the program, each hospital now has its own clinical trial unit. Hundreds of patients have benefited from better access to cutting-edge treatment that was previously only available in Melbourne.

Alfred Health’s Director of Research, and haematologist, Professor Stephen Jane oversees the TrialHub program.

“Five or six years ago, clinical trials and research in country areas was very limited.  Medical staff had to move to Melbourne to forge a career in research and clinical trials.

“Today, each hospital has new jobs that didn’t exist before but, most importantly, I have no doubt the model has reduced the mental and financial toll on country-based patients, and has saved lives.”