ACTA Reference Groups
Much of ACTA's work to grow, strengthen and support Australian clinical trials, clinical trials networks and coordinating centres, and registries is conducted with help from the sector's working clinician-researchers. These expert investigators generously give their time to participate in our Reference Groups and Special Interest Groups.
There are eight ACTA Reference Groups, each aligned with the key the challenges and opportunities for Better health through best evidence.
Efficient and Effective Clinical Trial Networks
Goal: Enable Clinical Trial Networks (CTNs) to operate in an effective and efficient manner.
Objectives:
- Describe activities undertaken by current network
- Identify critical factors to success/failure of networks, unmet needs to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of network
- Promote linkage between networks and sharing of expertise and tools
Establishment of New Clinical Trial Networks
Goal: The establishment of efficient, effective, and sustainable clinical trial networks in areas of major importance to public health and the healthcare system.
Objectives:
- Identify and prioritise areas of need for the establishment of new trial networks
- Develop and disseminate guidance framework for facilitating the formation of effective, efficient, and sustainable new networks
- Assist and facilitate the formation of new networks, focusing on areas of need
Impact and Implementation of Clinical Trial Networks
Goal: Maximise and measure the value of clinical trials to the community and the healthcare system, including the consideration of implementation of trial results into standard care.
Objectives:
- Establish a community of practice involving both clinical trial networks, experts in implementation science, and end-users to grow capacity in networks to facilitate effective implementation of trial results conducted by networks
- Disseminate and promote methods to clinical trial networks to facilitate trial design that optimises capacity for implementation, to measure impact on practice, including economic impact following implementation of trial results (i.e. return-on-investment studies)
Embedding Clinical Trials in Healthcare
Goal: Reduce the cost and shorten the duration of clinical trials by integrating the trial processes as a routine and integrated component of the healthcare system.
Objectives:
- Embedding of clinical trials within routine healthcare delivery
- Create community of practice among trialists who utilise embedding and develop metrics that evaluate embedding
- Develop and implement strategy to remove barriers and promote enablers including elements related to the design and conduct of trials, the healthcare system, and public policy
Strengthening Consumer Engagement in Developing, Conducting and Reporting Clinical Trials
Goal: Strengthen the CTN sectors’ capacity and ability to involve consumers in all activities across the research continuum.
Objectives:
- Identify and disseminate best practice options for involvement of consumers in CTN activities.
- Develop and disseminate messages to the general community about the value of clinical trials, particularly around comparative effectiveness trials
Tools and Criteria for Research Prioritisation
Goal: To ensure that trials conducted by networks identify research questions with the greatest possible impact on health outcomes.
Objective:
- Development and dissemination of best practice guidelines for prioritisation of clinical trials conducted by CTNs
Innovative Trial Design
Goal: CTN’s transition from use of conventional trial designs to use of innovative trial designs, where appropriate
Objectives:
- Facilitate the availability, dissemination, uptake, and evaluation of innovative methods of trial design
- Influence policy and promote the development of shared infrastructure that can support innovative trial design
Innovative Outcome Data
Goal: Widespread uptake of the use of linked data, automated PROMs, and registry datasets by CTN trials.
Objectives:
- Facilitate the availability, dissemination, and uptake of innovative methods for collection of trial outcome data
- Influence policy and promote the development of shared infrastructure that can support innovative methods for collection of trial outcome data which is relevant to real-world populations
ACTA Special Interest Groups
ACTA STInG – Statistics in Trials Interest Group
- To enhance learning and collaboration among its members
- Support and promote the work undertaken by statisticians in the clinical trials sector
Additional Special Interest Groups
- Network Managers
- Registries
- Health Economists