Currently Recruiting Clinical Trials

As the 2026 Buruli ulcer season begins, Barwon Health is continuing its world-first TREAT-BU clinical trial, investigating whether the antibiotic Telacebec could improve treatment for people diagnosed with Buruli ulcer.

Buruli ulcer is a skin disease caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans. The toxin produced by the bacteria can damage skin, small blood vessels and the fat beneath the skin, leading to ulceration and skin loss. The condition can cause significant physical, emotional and practical burden, with wounds often requiring prolonged care, dressings and medical review.

Buruli ulcer continues to affect communities across Geelong, the Bellarine Peninsula, the Surf Coast and surrounding areas, making early diagnosis and prompt referral important.

Director of Barwon Health’s Infectious Diseases Department, Professor Daniel O’Brien, said the study is exploring whether Telacebec may offer a shorter and more tolerable treatment option.

“Current treatment usually requires two antibiotics for up to eight weeks,” Professor O’Brien said.

“While effective, treatment can be difficult for some patients because of side effects, drug interactions and the length of therapy. Even after antibiotics are completed, ulcers may take months to heal.”

“The TREAT-BU trial is investigating whether 10 days of Telacebec could shorten treatment, reduce the need for multiple antibiotics and support better outcomes.”

Early results have been promising, prompting an extension of the trial.

People with a non-healing skin lesion, persistent swelling or a wound that is not improving should seek medical review and ask whether Buruli ulcer testing is needed.

If you are diagnosed with Buruli ulcer and would like to know whether you may be eligible for TREAT-BU, contact the Adrian Costa Clinical Trials Centre on 03 4215 2878 or click here.

Image: Trial participant Laurence Berto (left) with Principal Investigator Professor Daniel O’Brien (right)

Barwon Health is conducting a study which investigates adding a potential new once-weekly injection to your existing weekly GLP-1 injection regimen for 64 weeks. You will attend around 21 visits, some in-person, some by telehealth. During these visits, our medical team will perform health assessments and monitor your progress.

You may be eligible to take part in this study if you:

• are aged 18 years and over
• have a BMI of 27 kg/m² or greater
• are currently receiving a weekly weight management injection and have experienced a plateau in weight loss for at least the past 120 days
• are in generally good health
• can commit to the trial study visits

For more information, please contact Alicia Waight, Research Coordinator, on 03 4215 2880 or CTUClinicalTrialsUnit@barwonhealth.org.au

This study has been approved by Monash Health HREC

Barwon Health is conducting a clinical trial to examine the use of an investigational medication, or placebo medication, and its impact on weight management. The medication consists of oral capsules taken 1-3 times per day over 6 months.

 You may be eligible to take part in this study if you:

• Have a BMI of between 30 and 35
• Are Male aged between 18 and 65 years
• Are in generally good health
• Can commit to the trial study visits

For more information, please contact Alicia Waight, Research Coordinator, on 03 4215 2880 or CTUClinicalTrialsUnit@barwonhealth.org.au

This study has been approved by Monash Health HREC.

We are looking for people in Geelong aged 18 years or older with a diagnosis of major depressive disorder.  We are trialling adding a widely used and well tolerated blood pressure medication to your existing treatment which may help improve low mood and wellbeing.

• If you have been diagnosed with major depressive disorder,
• Currently experiencing low mood,
• Are 18 years or older,
• And if you are interested in participating in this clinical trial,

please contact us for more information.

Phone: 0402 196 595

Email: cadet-trial@deakin.edu.au

Website: http://deakinresear.ch/cadet-trial

Ethics review: Barwon Health HREC: 20/15, Deakin HREC: 2020-424, The Melbourne Clinic REC: 335, Eastern Health HREC: E20/024/69103, ANZCTR Registration: ACTRN12620001095954

We are looking for people in Geelong aged 18 years or older with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder.  We are trialling adding a widely used and well tolerated blood pressure medication to your existing treatment which may help improve low mood and wellbeing.

• If you have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder,
• Currently experiencing low mood,
• Are 18 years or older,
• And if you are interested in participating in this clinical trial,

please contact us for more information.

Phone: 0402 196 595

Email: cadet-trial@deakin.edu.au

Website: http://deakinresear.ch/cadet-trial

Ethics review: Barwon Health HREC: 19/166, Deakin HREC: 2020-425, The Melbourne Clinic REC: 334, Eastern Health HREC: E20/012/61681,  ANZCTR registration: ACTRN12620000703909

Suffering from Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome? This clinical trial might be for you!

The Aim

Researchers at IMPACT and La Trobe University are investigating if a potential new treatment is effective in treating Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). This study will assess the effectiveness of the medication in a high-quality, clinical trial.

The Reason

In a recent stem cell-based treatment development program, the medication showed promising potential to address the key elements of ME/CFS by improving energy generation by reversing mitochondrial dysfunction – the likely pathway in ME/CFS.

The medication works to improve the efficiency of how the body creates energy. It reverses many of the abnormalities in energy generation that occur in the disorder.

Key Points for Participation

• There is no cost involved for participants in the trial
• People can continue on their usual treatments
• The trial will be held over 8 weeks and involve a total of 5 appointments
• Participants will be randomly allocated to receive either the active medication or placebo

If you would like to receive more information or enquire about participating, please contact us via:

Email: tri-me@deakin.edu.au

Website: Visit: https://redcap.link/TRI-ME_EOI

Phone: 0482 869 599

Ethics Review: Barwon Health HREC: 23/196

The Bugs & Bumps study is looking for women in Geelong aged over 18 years old in their second trimester.

Participants will be given access to an app-based dietary education program designed with dietitians to help improve their diet. The program will not ask you to follow a strict dietary regimen or meal plan.

Your involvement would help to assess any effects the program might have on prenatal wellbeing and child emotional and brain development over the first 18 months of life, as well as understanding whether gut bugs play any role in this.

Participants will be given 2 x $50 gift vouchers, and will be required to attend four in-person appointments.

To find out if you might be eligible, click here.

If you’d like more information, please get in touch on 03 5227 3097 or email bugs-and-bumps@deakin.edu.au

Are you planning to have a laparoscopy (keyhole surgery) for pelvic pain? You may be eligible for our study!

What is involved? You will be asked to:

• Complete an online questionnaire before your surgery
• Attend a consultation with a physiotherapist before your surgery for an assessment of your pelvic floor muscles
• Complete follow up online questionnaires and physiotherapy visits at 3 months and 12 months after surgery.

You will be given a $20 retail voucher for your travel expenses to each physiotherapy visit. On your last visit, you will also be given the device used to assess your pelvic floor muscles, called a ‘Femfit’, to keep for your future use!

Interested?

If you would like to find out more or be involved, please click here or contact the study team directly at: Endo-Research@unimelb.edu.au

The ARC Trial is a clinical trial that will compare arthroscopic shoulder surgery where the rotator cuff tear is repaired, to the same surgery without repairing the rotator cuff. This research project is testing whether surgery to repair the tear is an effective treatment to improve shoulder pain and function and quality of life in people with rotator cuff tears.

You may be eligible to take part in the trial if you:

• Are aged between 45-75 years old
• Have been suffering from shoulder problems for the last six months
• Have been diagnosed as having a reparable rotator cuff tear, which was confirmed by an MRI imaging scan

To find out more, please contact Dr Stephen Gill, Senior Research Fellow, at stephen.gill@barwonhealth.org.au.

This study has ethical approval from UNSW Human Research Ethics Committee

Recruitment is starting soon for the RAPSODI-AUS study, which compares two common types of shoulder replacement: the Total Shoulder (Anatomic) replacement, and the Reverse Shoulder replacement. These are the two types of shoulder replacement that surgeons use very often for patients with osteoarthritis who need a shoulder replacement. They both help to reduce pain and maintain or improve movement, and the aim of this study is to explore which method works best.

You may be eligible to take part in the trial if you:

• Are aged 60 years and over
• Have been diagnosed as having shoulder osteoarthritis
• An intact rotator cuff (determined via pre-operative advanced imaging)

To find out more, please contact Dr Stephen Gill, Senior Research Fellow, at stephen.gill@barwonhealth.org.au.

This study has ethical approval from Metro North Health Human Research Ethics Committee

We are currently seeking participants for a study to investigate potential links between memory and thinking problems, low motivation and lack of energy, and physical health issues, such as high blood sugar, in individuals with early psychosis and schizophrenia-spectrum disorders

The study can be conducted remotely via Zoom, or in person at the Adrian Costa Clinical Trials Centre in Geelong. You will also be asked to attend a local Clinical Labs pathology centre to provide a blood sample.

If you decide to participate, you will be asked to:

• Answer questions about your mental health, social life, and school/work functioning.
• Complete tests that measure your memory and processing speed.
• Have your height, weight, and blood pressure measured.
• Have a blood sample collected

You will also be asked to attend a follow-up appointment one year later. You will be reimbursed $100 for your time at the baseline assessment and a further $100 at the 12-month follow up.

Inclusion criteria:

• Age 18+ years
• Experience symptoms related to psychosis, have experienced a first full psychotic episode in the last five years, or have a clinical diagnosis of a psychotic disorder such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or related disorder.

If you are interested in participating, please email bionecs_study@deakin.edu.au. The team will send an information and consent form which will explain the study in detail.

We are also seeking referrals from clinicians who treat psychosis in Victoria.

Ethics approval by Barwon Health (Project Number: 21/154) and Deakin University (Reference: 2024-057).

To view the cancer trials currently underway at Barwon Health, visit the Victorian Cancer Trials Link website.

Searching this website is easy. All you have to do is type information about you, your cancer or cancer treatment to begin. Once you have begun the search, you can narrow your results by selecting criteria on the left hand side of the page.

Once you have found a trial that you think you can join, speak to your doctor or contact the Barwon Health Cancer Services Trials Unit for more information.

Barwon Health is looking for people with cardiovascular disease to participate in a clinical study for a potential new treatment to prevent heart failure.

You may be eligible to join the study if you:

• Aged 40 years and over

• Have had a heart attack or stroke or have blocked arteries of the heart, neck or legs.
• Have Type 2 diabetes and you’re taking medication
• Have a history of high blood pressure

For more information call Emily Picken on 03 4215 1027 or email CARDIOLOGYRESEARCH@BarwonHealth.org.au

This study has been approved by Monash Health Human Research Ethics Committee.

Barwon Health is evaluating new treatments to lower high Lipoprotein(a) and reduce cardiovascular risk.

You may be eligible to join the study if you:

• Are 18 years or older
• Are at high risk of heart disease
• Have a history of cardiovascular disease – such as a prior heart attack, stroke or narrowed arteries

For more information call Karen Fogarty on 03 4215 1033 email CARDIOLOGYRESEARCH@BarwonHealth.org.au

This study has been approved by Monash Health Human Research Ethics Committee

Your experience with heart disease could help us shape future treatments. If you are interested in finding out more about participating in any of our current trials, please contact us at (03) 4215 1030 or cardiologyresearch@barwonhealth.org.au

EASY AS Study

Your heart valve condition (aortic stenosis, or AS) is a common condition in which one of the four heart valves narrows over many years. When a valve becomes narrow, it can reduce the flow of blood through the heart and the body. Symptoms can include shortness of breath and chest pain; these can take years to develop and some patients never develop symptoms at all.

Patients who do have symptoms can have the valve replaced. This works really well, but as with any medical procedure, there is a chance of complications, and it can take a long time to recover. Some heart specialists believe that replacing the valve before symptoms develop may be better than the more conventional approach of performing the AVR once symptoms develop.

You may be eligible to take part if you:

• Are 18 + years of age
• Have a diagnosis of severe aortic stenosis but no symptoms

For more information please contact us at (03) 4215 1030 or cardiologyresearch@barwonhealth.org.au.

HF-POLARIS Study

The purpose of this research study is to find out if the potential new treatment is safe and effective for people who have heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) or heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF) and excess body weight.

Heart failure is a condition where the heart can’t pump or fill with blood properly. This can make it harder for a person to do everyday activities, affects their quality of life, and can lead to more illness or even shorten life.

Being overweight can put extra strain on your heart and blood vessels. Extra body fat causes changes in how the body works—like affecting hormones, causing inflammation and making the heart work harder. This can change how the heart looks and works.

You are potentially eligible to participate in the study if you fit the following criteria:

• 18 + years of age or older
• Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or above
• Diagnosis of heart failure (HF)
• The heart isn’t pumping as well as it should, but its pumping strength is still above 40% (Ejection Fraction EF).

For more information please contact us at (03) 4215 1030 or cardiologyresearch@barwonhealth.org.au.

Do you currently suffer from Long COVID Symptoms such as fatigue, insomnia, cognitive issues (“brain fog”), depression and/ or anxiety?

A team of Deakin researchers invite you to take part in a project that is aiming to test the feasibility of a clinical trial protocol of enema-delivered faecal microbiome transplantation (FMT) in adults living with Long COVID.  This is a novel treatment option for those suffering from Long COVID.

What’s involved:

• Attend five study visits at the University Hospital Geelong.
• Receive three enemas of either the FMT OR a placebo product over three consecutive days/visits.
• Attend two follow up appointments.
• Provide blood, urine and stool samples.
• Complete online questionnaires– these can be completed at home on your own device.
• Wear a Garmin smart watch to measure your activity levels, sleep and heart rate.
• You are not required to stop your current medication or supplements.
• Participation in this research is free.
• You will be reimbursed to cover the cost of your parking

If you meet the following criteria, you may be eligible to participate:

• Adult aged 18 years or older
• Diagnosis of Long COVID by a medical doctor
• Experiencing symptoms that significantly impact on daily life
• Willing to wear a Garmin wrist health tracking device
• Willing to attend the study site for 5 in-person appointments
• Able to commit to the ongoing use of contraceptive, if sexually active and of childbearing potential during study period
• Access to a smart device capable of downloading apps

To find out more please follow the link:  https://foodandmoodcentre.com.au/projects/gut-therapy-to-improve-long-covid-outcomes-and-wellbeing-the-glow-trial/

Or contact the study team at: grace.mccartin@barwonhealth.org.au

This project is sponsored by Deakin University and has ethical approval by Monash Health RES-25-0000-040A