ANZCTR search results

This study aims to see if using MarginProbe® radiofrequency spectroscopy device is practical in Australian hospitals and whether it affects surgery time and costs. Who is it for? You may be eligible for this study if you are a female aged 18 or older, you have histologically confirmed early-stage invasive breast cancer or ductal caricinoma in situ (DCIS). Planned breast-conserving surgery (wide local excision) with preoperative lesion localisation. Non-palpable disease. Able and willing to provide written informed consent and comply with study requirements. Study details All participants who choose to enroll in this study will be assessed by MarginProbe radiofrequency spectroscopy device during breast-conserving surgery. The device assesses all six surfaces of the excised tumour specimen for cancer cells; if positive, surgeon performs directed cavity shaves before closure. Participants will be followed up for 30 days for re-excision rate. It is hoped this study will help reduce the need for second operations and improves patient outcomes.

This study is a mixed-methods evaluation of child health services in rural Australia, examining accessibility, utilisation, quality, and coordination across primary, allied, and specialist care. It integrates administrative data analysis, caregiver and clinician surveys, semi-structured interviews, and geospatial mapping to identify system-level barriers, enablers, and inequities. Findings will inform evidence-based policy, workforce planning, and strategies to improve equity, efficiency, and culturally safe service delivery for children in rural regions.

This pilot study will investigate effect of oral adjuncts Mirabegron and Phenazopyridine Hydrochloride given during intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) therapy for non muscle invasive bladder cancer Who is it for? You may be eligible to join this study if you are aged 18 years or above and diagnosed with non muscle invasive bladder cancer and have planned intravesical BCG therapy Study details Participants in this study will randomly allocated (by chance) to one of three groups: one group will take Mirabegron once daily for 6 weeks throughout your course of treatment, another group will take Phenazopyridine Hydrochloride three times daily with or without food for 6 weeks throughout your course of treatment, and placebo orally once daily for the 6 weeks throughout your course of treatment. Quality of life will be assessed using questionnaires at regular intervals for the duration of your course of treatment, and a further week after it concludes. Adverse events and treatment discontinuation will also be assessed. This research is expected to identify effective oral therapies that reduce BCG-related bladder side effects, with the aim of improving patients’ quality of life and supporting completion of their cancer-preventing intravesical BCG treatment.

This is a prospective safety and feasibility study of a new device designed to deliver a low electrical pulse to the intestine from inside the body. Candidates for this study will be participants with Type 2 diabetes. This study intends to assess and prove that the device is safe for use for the delivery of energy within the intestine and may be an effective treatment. Participants will be followed up by the study team for up to 1-year post-procedure. This is a non-powered study, so there is no formal hypothesis. This research will determine whether use of this new system is safe and feasible.

Limited dementia awareness among culturally and linguistically diverse communities can exacerbate stigma and hinder support for carers and people at risk of or living with dementia. Co-producing a culturally inclusive dementia education intervention with representative stakeholders can address these knowledge and service gaps. This project aims to improve dementia knowledge, attitudes and supportive practices in a multicultural context through a co-produced multilingual dementia education intervention named Dementia Friends Unite. The initiative's impact will be evaluated according to the RE-AIM framework. Outcome measures include intervention reach and effectiveness in changing participants' knowledge, attitudes and supportive practices; adoption and implementation characteristics through focus groups with stakeholders and facilitators; and maintenance through a cost–benefit analysis. This project will employ a comprehensive approach to address unmet needs and research gaps in co-produced dementia education and its implementation in multicultural contexts. It can serve as a blueprint for others seeking to engage culturally diverse populations in community-based health education and research.

Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is a critical component of most open-heart surgeries, allowing surgeons to operate on a still and bloodless field. However, its use is associated with a range of potential complications. Conventional CPB circuits produce non-pulsatile continuous flow (CF), which is the most widely adopted perfusion mode in cardiac surgery. Although CF maintains systemic circulation during cardiac surgery, it lacks the natural pulsatility of normal cardiac output. Pulsatile flow (PF) has been proposed as an alternative perfusion strategy that more closely mimics the natural arterial pulse generated by the heart. This project will compare the clinical-effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and safety of pulsatile versus continuous flow cardiopulmonary bypass perfusion strategies. It is hypothesised that PF will improve a hierarchical composite measure of early postoperative organ dysfunction and all-cause mortality, without safety concern, compared to CF cardiopulmonary bypass.

The prevalence of neurodegenerative disease is expected to increase globally over the coming decades. The most common neurodegenerative diseases are Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and Parkinson’s Disease (PD), with AD being the second leading cause of death in Australia. Early data suggests that photobiomodulation (PBM), or red light therapy, could offer significant benefits for patients with neurodegenerative disorders including AD and PD. PBM involves administering red and near-infrared light to the patient via a helmet, which activates the affected cells in the brain and recruits circulating stem and immune cells, ultimately promoting improved cell functioning and mitigating inflammation. This study research will assess whether red light therapy adminstered twice daily over a 12 month period is effective in improving cognitive function in AD and PD patients. Assessments are to be conducted 3 monthly and include a series of pen-and-paper cognition tests and motor function tests in PD patients.

This study investigates how tirzepatide affects brain activity in adults with binge eating disorder (BMI > 30 kg/m²). Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) is a GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist that lowers blood sugar and supports weight loss by regulating insulin and appetite. Although approved by the TGA for type 2 diabetes, weight management, and obstructive sleep apnoea, it has not been approved for binge eating disorder. Limited evidence suggests similar drugs may reduce binge-eating episodes. The study aims to examine changes in brain activity after 24 weeks of tirzepatide use and explore how daily and questionnaire data relate to these neurobiological changes.

Exercise has been shown to reduce the prevalence of diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and Type II diabetes by regulating numerous systems that underpin skeletal muscle health. However, the intricacies of how exercise and physical inactivity impacts skeletal muscle are currently not fully understood. Thus, how exercise may play a role in fending off muscle wasting during an acute period of physical inactivity and whether biological sex may influence the effects of this is at the forefront of this project’s investigations.

The TailorED study will test personalised interventions for bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. Participants who respond to established first line cognitive behavioural therapy guided self help treatment after four weeks (that is, participants whose objective binge eating episodes reduce by at least 70%) will be randomly allocated to: a) continue with a guide as they complete a further six weeks of cognitive behavioural therapy guided self help treatment, or b) to complete a further six weeks of cognitive behavioural therapy guided self help treatment with 'light contact' from a guide. Light contact means 5-10 minutes of non-clinical weekly contact via email, text message or phone to ensure participant has what they need to complete the program. Participants who are non-rapid responders to established cognitive behavioural therapy treatment (that is, objective binge eating episodes do not reduce by at least 70%) will be randomly allocated to continue with 16 weeks of either: a) an extended dose of guided cognitive-behavioural therapy guided self help treatment, or b) a transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment package, or c) a personalised psychotherapy treatment package.