Pediatrics in Melbourne

December 2024

Improving child health through research 2016 has flown by and once again it is the festive season.PTNA thanks you all for your continued support and your collaboration in 2016.We wish you all a wonderful holiday and a happy and successful 2017! Professor Andrew Davidson, Chair and the Steering Committee membersRebecca Lennon, Executive Officer and Allison van Lint, WebSpirit Database ManagerPTNA proudly announces a new member:

Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute is a joint initiative of the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District and the University of Wollongong. PTNA is pleased that Professor Ian Wright will remain on the Steering Committee as the member representative for IHMRI, having previously held a position on the Committee as an expert member.

Thank you to Professor Peter Sly AOPTNA thanks Professor Peter Sly AO for his contribution to the Network and to the development of WebSpirit.  Peter has been a Committee member since PTNA’s inception and his insightful clinical, basic and translational research perspectives will be missed.  Peter has stepped down as the CHQHH representative on the PTNA Steering Committee.  He remains committed to high-quality paediatric clinical trials in his many other roles. National Research Infrastructure Roadmap consultationFollowing a consultation process in the middle on 2016, the NRI Roadmap Expert Working Group released its Draft 2016 National Research Infrastructure Roadmap.        The 2016 National Research Infrastructure Roadmap will be used to support future investment decisions that will ensure Australian researchers can access world class major national research infrastructure.http://www.education.gov.au/2016-national-research-infrastructure-roadmapIt is now open for comment.  Submissions close on 16 January 2016.PTNA encourages you to provide your feedback on this strategy to fund essential research infrastructure:  Use the template and upload it on the Department of Education submission page.  Find both here. Welcome to Allison van Lint  Our new WebSpirit Database Manager PTNA welcomes Allison van Lint PhD to the position of WebSpirit Database Manager. Allison is based at the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute in Melbourne and can be contacted via webspirit@ptna.comAllison began her professional life as a research scientist with a PhD in Immunology from The University of Melbourne and post-doctoral training in viral immunology at the Harvard Medical School.Upon returning to Australia Allison moved into the public health sphere, taking up a position with the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society (ANZICS). Within ANZICS Allison worked with the intensive care registries managed by the Centre for Outcome and Resource Evaluation (CORE), firstly with the data audit and outlier management programs, and more recently as the CORE Project Lead. Within this role Allison acted as the project manager and subject matter expert on two large IT projects; building a new data warehouse for the CORE registries and a web-based data capture tool for registry data collection. She has interests in data linkage, the standardisation of data collection, and the improved collection and utilisation of health-related data.Allison used to do Irish Dancing and once fell off the stage during a performance. She likes to bake and this year made her first (professional) wedding cake…we hope to sample both soon!WebSpirit – your questions answered WebSpirit is a cost-effective solution to clinical research data capture and file management. It is a custom-built web-based data management system accessible from anywhere in the world where the internet is available.How much does it cost? WebSpirit takes a tiered approach to pricing.  Establishment fees range from $5,300 to $6,400 (incl GST) which includes 20 users, 10 sites, design advice and some support. Thereafter annual fees range from $3,700 to $4,500 (incl GST).  The single fee gives you access to data capture, trial management and file management functionality. However, if you want to use WebSpirit as an essential document repository or maintain your eTrial Master Files (with no EDC functionality) you can do this for as little as $180 per annum.You can also take advantage of the WebSpirit Database Manager’s expertise by asking her to build your eCRF using your paper forms at an hourly rate.    In addition, PTNA founding members (SCHN; MCRI/RCH, CAHS/Telethon; CHQHH) receive discounts due to their substantial initial investment into WebSpirit.  Rates for commercial organisations are available upon request.Thinking of using WebSpirit for your next study?  Contact:  webspirit@ptna.com.au PTNA Clinical Research Managers’ Committee The newly formed PTNA Clinical Research Managers’ Committee is part of PTNA’s objective to improve the paediatric clinical trials landscape in Australia.  The members have operational responsibilities for clinical research across Australia’s leading children’s health services.  The Committee met for the first time at the end of November.  It focused largely on costing of clinical trials and will continue to meet monthly in the new year. The Committee has also expanded to include the paediatric cancer clinical trials managers as these managers bring a wealth of knowledge and experience that can be applied to the broader paediatric trials community.APREG The Australian Paediatric Research Ethics and Governance Network, now an advisory committee to the PTNA Steering Committee, continues to meet regularly and work together to improve the quality and timeliness of review.  APREG’s November meeting was kindly hosted by the Centre for Children’s Health Research, Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital Precinct in Queensland.  APREG plays an important role in educating the research community about the regulatory environment. Shortly it will release APREG Clinical Trials, the child participant and consent: A practical guide for investigators and sponsors to assist researchers to navigate research consent and the different requirements across Australian jurisdictions. The Guide will be published on the PTNA website. See the Ethics and Governance tabFor more information email:  apreg@ptna.com.auNot a member of PTNA Yet? PTNA is an inclusive network of organisations that undertake high quality paediatric clinical trials.   Large site = $4,000 per annum. Small site = $1,000 per annum. Talk to us about the benefits of membership and being actively involved in the paediatric trials community: info@ptna.com.auPTNA Steering Committee:NSWProf Chris CowellThe Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney Children’s Hospital NetworkNSWProf Jonathan CraigThe Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney Children’s Hospital NetworkNSWProf Ian WrightIllawarra Health and Medical Research InstituteNSWDr Koert de WaalJohn Hunter Children’s Hospital, Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of NewcastleVICProf Andrew Davidson (Chair)Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, The Royal Children’s HospitalVICProf John CarlinMurdoch Childrens Research Institute, University of MelbourneVICProf Jim ButteryMonash Children’s Hospital, Monash HealthSAProf Helen MarshallWomen’s and Children’s Hospital, AdelaideQLDDr Robyn LittlewoodChildren’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health ServiceWAProf Peter RichmondTelethon Kids Institute, Child and Adolescent Health Service