Australian women are being encouraged to register their interest in clinical trial participation during Women’s Health Week (7–11 September), as trial facilitator Nucleus Network works to close a longstanding gap in medical research.
According to a statement released by Nucleus Network, the call comes as “significant gaps remain in understanding how medicines affect women”.
“Women can experience medicines differently to men and are more likely to experience adverse drug reactions, reinforcing the importance of ensuring women are appropriately represented and considered throughout clinical research and medicine development,” says the trial facilitator.
A data gap with real consequences
The disparity extends across the research pipeline.
For example, according to Nucleus Network, less than 2% of Australian cancer clinical trials report participants’ sex, making it harder to determine whether treatments work equally for women.
Paving the way for a solution, Nucleus Network has reportedly supported 24 approved products through Phase 1 clinical trials in areas including contraception, endometriosis, menopause and hormone therapy, and breast and ovarian cancer, from a broader portfolio of more than 350 studies that have progressed to approved treatments.
From advocacy to participation
Health advocate and Nucleus Network ambassador, Shelly Horton, is encouraging Australians to ‘Do It For’ the women in their lives and consider registering their interest in clinical trial participation this Women’s Health Week — and beyond.
“Women are not small men. Our bodies are different, our hormones are different, and our health needs are different, yet for far too long women have been underrepresented in medical research,” she says.
“I’ve spent years speaking publicly and campaigning in Parliament about the importance of advancing women’s health outcomes, and clinical trials are a very real way to turn that frustration into action.
“Taking part in a clinical trial is an opportunity to give back and contribute to research that could help improve the medicines and treatments our sisters, daughters, friends, colleagues and family will rely on in the future.
“There’s real purpose in knowing that putting your hand up today could contribute to better health for women tomorrow.”
Advancing medicine and improving lives
Teena Pisarev, Global CEO, Nucleus Network, says greater representation of women in Phase 1 clinical research can help generate better data, build a stronger understanding of how medicines affect women and ultimately contribute to better-informed treatments and health outcomes.
“Our purpose is to advance medicine and improve lives – this means all lives. At the heart of each of our studies are the people who choose to participate, and we need more women,” she says.
“Every study we conduct is underpinned by rigorous clinical processes, experienced medical teams, strong ethical oversight and close participant monitoring, helping us generate the high-quality data needed to know how medicines will work on a vast range of bodies, sexes, conditions, cultural backgrounds, ages, and more.”
An informed choice
Participating in a clinical trial is an informed personal choice, conducted in a medically rigorous environment at Nucleus Network.
According to Nucleus Network, “participants are supported throughout the process by experienced medical teams, strong ethical oversight and close monitoring, from initial health screenings through to time spent in their purpose-built clinics located in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, as well as the UK and USA”.
To learn more and to register your interest, visit: nucleusnetwork.com/participants/expression-of-interest-au.
