A clinical trial underway in regional Western Australia is marking a first for country health services, with a commercially sponsored study now being delivered outside the metropolitan area for the first time.
The initiative is being led by the WA Country Health Service Trial Centre in partnership with global pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly and Company, with clinicians working across the Goldfields and Great Southern regions. The study focuses on reducing nausea and vomiting linked to chemotherapy treatment.
Known as the YAAD clinical trial, the Phase 2 study is double-blind and placebo-controlled, assessing the effectiveness of a potential new medicine designed to ease chemotherapy-related side effects. Participants are randomly assigned to receive either the investigational medicine or a placebo, alongside their standard chemotherapy care and routine anti-nausea treatment.
Local delivery has been supported by new in-house laboratory spaces at the Albany Health Campus and Esperance Health Campus, allowing samples to be collected and processed closer to patients. Regional clinicians are overseeing medication administration and monitoring throughout the trial period.
Medical Research Minister Stephen Dawson said the project reflects growing confidence in Western Australia’s ability to attract and deliver international research collaborations beyond major cities. He said it also strengthens the state’s position in global clinical research while providing access to new treatments for regional patients who would otherwise need to travel to Perth.
Health Minister Meredith Hammat said the expansion of clinical trials into country hospitals is helping ensure patients across Western Australia can access research and treatment opportunities closer to home. She noted that building regional capability is central to improving consistency of care across the state.
The WA Government said the trial forms part of broader efforts to strengthen research infrastructure in regional health services and support long-term participation in clinical studies across country Western Australia.
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