Barwon Health Research - Currently Recruiting Clinical Trials

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) vaccine clinical trial

The Barwon Health Clinical Trial Unit is looking for healthy women aged between 16 and 40 years of age to participate in study to evaluate an investigational CMV Vaccine.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is common. CMV infection in children and adults rarely causes symptoms, however CMV infection pregnant mothers can result in infection of babies in their mother's womb or at the time of birth and can result in significant lifelong disability.

Barwon Health Director of Infectious Diseases, Professor Eugene Athan, is conducting the clinical trial.

You may be eligible to participate if you:

Are between 16 and 40 years of age,
Are in general good health
If you are a female, have or anticipate having direct exposure to at least one child 5 years of age or younger, either in the home, socially or occupationally (eg parent or childcare worker). This applies only to female participants 20 years of age or above.

For more information about the study, call the study research nurse Jo Chambers on 03 42152880 or email [email protected]

This clinical trial has been approved by Monash Human Research Ethics Committee

Clinical trial of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine given together with an annual flu vaccine in healthy older adults

Barwon Health is currently looking for volunteers to take part in an investigational RSV vaccine clinical trial

Main Inclusion criteria

Male and females aged 65 and over
Able and willing to comply with trial requirements (e.g. e-diary completion have regular phone contact/trial site visits)
In general good health
Have not yet received your annual flu vaccine

Trial participation will last approximately 2 months for each participant and will include 3 scheduled visits and regular contacts (e.g. phone calls, emails, text messages).

If you are interested in finding out more, please contact the study coordinator

Kate Ellis on 03 4215 2878 or email [email protected]

Eye testing technology to assist with the diagnosis of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder type 1

The Adrian Costa Clinical Trials Centre and Professor Alison Yung are currently looking for participants for a research study at Barwon Health.

We are inviting healthy volunteers as well as participants aged 18-50 with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder type 1 to participate in this non-drug clinical trial
The study involves 4 appointments each of about 3 hours. These appointments will include interviews and eye tests that use an electroretinogram to assess the response at the back of your eye to flashes of light
Participants will be compensated for each appointment

For more information please contact the Adrian Costa Clinical Trials Centre at (03) 4215 3053 or email [email protected]

This research study has been approved by Monash Health Human Research Ethics Committee.

Victorian Cancer Trials

New clinical trial to prevent Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)

Barwon Health is currently looking for participants for a clinical trial to prevent Urinary tract infections (UTIs)

Participants would be required to attend several visits over a 3 year period.

You may be eligible if you are:

Adults aged ≥ 60 years
Have a history of UTI in the past 2 years
In generally good health

For more information please call 03 4215 2877 or email [email protected]

This study has been approved by Monash Human Research Ethics Committee

New vaccine trial for staph aureus – soft skin infections

Barwon Health is currently looking for volunteers who have had a recent staph aureus infection to participate in a research study.

The aim of the study is to trial a new vaccine to prevent re-infection of staph aureus

To be eligible you must:

Be aged 18 - 64
Have a recent or current soft skin infection caused by staph aureus
Be generally healthy

If you are interested in finding out more, please contact Anne Welsh, Research Nurse on 0421 063 393 or [email protected]

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) Study

This NHMRC study is a joint venture between Deakin University and Barwon Health that aims to improve the understanding of the disorder as well as to look for new treatments for ME/CFS.

Who can participate?

Individuals with a diagnosis of ME/CFS
Individuals with no known disease (healthy controls)
Male or female, 18-65 years old
Not currently pregnant
Not currently enrolled in a clinical trial

Key points for participants

The study will not involve any costs
Once enrolled in the study, you will receive a gift voucher up to $40 for any travel costs
No additional treatment will be provided
Surveys will be done online at your own pace
Only ONE appointment needed to take part
Study involves donating a blood sample

For more information

Weight loss study seeking night shift workers

Do you work at least four night shifts every fortnight, and want to lose weight?

We are seeking participants for a world-first study (SWIFt), which will compare different types of diets to help with weight loss & improve overall health for shift workers.

WHAT'S INVOLVED?

Over 18 months, you will:

be given a dietary weight loss program to follow for 24 weeks
consult with a dietitian regularly and be provided with study foods for 24 weeks
after this period, be followed up for one year to monitor your progress
have your body measurements taken throughout the study

HOW WILL I BENEFIT?

By volunteering for this study, you’re helping our researchers find a suitable diet plan that meets the needs of night shift workers.

The outcomes of SWIFt could result in new dietary recommendations that improve the health of night shift workers throughout Australia – and you’ll be playing a key role in helping us get there.

Participants will receive a $100 petrol voucher and be provided some study meals.

To find out more or to enrol now, please visit the SWIFt study website or scan the QR code

This study has been approved by Barwon Health Human Research Ethics Committee.

Whipple's Disease Study - healthy volunteers required

Whipple’s Disease is a rare but very serious infection which is due to a very common environmental bacterium. We suspect that many people are exposed to this bacterium but only very few become infected, for reasons not well understood. The bacterium is ingested with food and water and excreted in their faeces. Normal people produce antibodies to it.

We are asking healthy volunteers to:
1. Provide a saliva sample, as the mouth is the route of entry of this bacterium to the body.
2. Provide a faecal sample, as the bacterium is excreted from the body by this route. You will be given an empty container to place in your toilet and into which you will easily be able to collect some faeces. The container will come with a tightly fitting lid for safe transport to the lab.
3. Provide a blood sample, from which we will measure your level of antibodies to the bacterium.

For those who are interested to help out for this study, please contact Dr K.C Liew, Principal Investigator, on 0433 186 662 or [email protected]. Your time and effort for this study will be truly appreciated.

Matisse RSV Study

Barwon Health are participating in a research study on Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and are looking for pregnant volunteers to take part to find out whether giving an investigational vaccine during pregnancy may help protect babies against RSV infection. RSV is a common cause of respiratory illness, especially in babies under 12 months of age.

You may be eligible to participate if you are:

Aged 18 to 49 years
Are of general good health
Are expecting a single healthy baby
Are between 24 and 36 weeks pregnant on the day of planned vaccination

You will need to meet other requirements to participate and the study team will discuss these with you during a screening visit.

If eligible, your participation in this study will take place during your pregnancy and for approximately 12-24 months after your baby is born. You and your baby will be required to visit the study doctor at Barwon Health a number of times for follow up and to provide information about your and your baby’s health.

For more information or to assess eligibility, please contact Fahriya Zandari - Ph: 03 4215 2877 Email: [email protected]

All information is kept strictly confidential. There are no costs associated with participation, and travel expenses can be reimbursed. This study has been approved by an Human Research Ethics Committee.

Cardiology Unit

The Barwon Health Cardiology Unit is conducting a clinical trial with men (50 years old and older) and women (55 years old and older), who are taking medication to lower their cholesterol and who are at risk of a cardiovascular event, like heart attack and stroke.

The purpose of this research is to find out whether an investigational medication may reduce the risk of cardiovascular events, like heart attack and stroke, in people at high risk for these events.

For more information, please call Donna Soraghan on 4215 1032

The research is being conducted by Associate Prof John Amerena at the University Hospital Geelong

All calls will be treated with the strictest confidence. This research study has been approved by the Monash Health Human Research Ethics Committee.

Do you have low mood? Volunteers required for the Moo'd Study

We are conducting a clinical trial comparing the possible effects of conventional versus A2 dairy products on aspects of women’s health and wellbeing.

You may be eligible if you:

Are a woman between the ages of 18-75 years
Have low mood
Consume at least 250ml (approx.one cup) of milk each day

For more information, please visit foodandmoodcentre.com.au/themoodstudy or contact the study team on (03) 4215 3332 or email [email protected]

Would you like to help research into gut bacteria and weight loss?

The Food & Mood Centre are conducting The MicroFit Study to assess the possible effects of very-low calorie diets (≤ 900kcal/day) on the number and type of bacteria that live within your gut. We are looking for women in the Geelong region aged between 30-65 years and with a BMI of between 30 – 45 (BMI Calculator) who are willing to commit to a study diet for three weeks. The study will require two visits to Geelong, but will otherwise be conducted online. Food for the duration of the study will be provided free of charge.

For more information click here or contact the trial coordinator:

Email: [email protected]

Call: 0429 691 077

Dietary research trial for individuals with irritable bowel syndrome and anxiety and/or depression

The Food & Mood Centre are looking for participants for a dietary research trial for individuals with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) who also have anxiety and/or depression.

Participants will be asked to follow the study diet or their usual diet for 6 weeks. Those allocated to the intervention group will be provided with 1:1 advice by a dietitian and given a small food hamper. If allocated to the control group, dietary advice and a food hamper will be offered at study completion. This study will be conducted entirely online with a video call at week 1 and week 6, along with weekly support phone calls.

You may be eligible if you:

Are 18-65 years old
Have irritable bowel syndrome
Have current anxiety and/or depressive symptoms
Are not pregnant or lactating
Are willing to follow the study diet for 6 weeks

For more information please contact Sophie on (03) 5227 8622 or email [email protected]

This study is a joint venture undertaken by researchers at Deakin University and Barwon Health.