Grampians Health wins national award for innovative mobile clinical trials unit

Grampians Health has been recognised on the international stage, winning the 2026 Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) Site Spark Award for its groundbreaking mobile clinical trials unit. The mobile clinical trial unit is an Australian-first initiative bringing clinical trial treatment and care directly to regional and rural communities in western Victoria.

The award was announced at the Society for Clinical Research Sites (SCRS) Australia and New Zealand Site Solutions Summit in Melbourne on 25 July. The award announcement followed presentations from finalists: Grampians Health, Cancer Institute NSW and Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand. 

The SCRS Site Spark Award recognises research sites demonstrating outstanding innovation and effectiveness in clinical trial operations. The award celebrates site-led initiatives that introduce new and innovative ways of delivering clinical trials and expanding access to research. 

The award-winning mobile clinical trials unit was launched last year as Australia's first dedicated clinical trial mobile service of its kind. The unit enables clinical trial staff to bring clinical trial care and treatment closer to patients' homes, reducing the significant travel burden often faced by patients living in regional and rural areas. 

Inspired by a ‘bright spark’ idea, a second-hand Sprinter van was transformed into a state-of-the-art mobile clinical trial unit with full laboratory capabilities. Today, it is helping break down geographic barriers by bringing clinical trial opportunities directly to regional and rural patients in their own communities.

For Grampians Health Director of Research, Ashleigh Clarke, seeing the dream of a mobile clinical trials unit come to fruition is more important than any recognition.

“Whilst the accolade is wonderful, to be able to offer our regional and rural patients the opportunity to access innovative world-class clinical research is what we are most proud of,” said Ms Clarke.
Grampians Health Chief Medical Officer Professor Matthew Hadfield said the recognition acknowledged the health service’s commitment to improving equity of access to innovative healthcare and clinical research.

"This award demonstrates that world-leading research innovation can come from a regional centre. We are proud to be improving access, inclusion and equity in clinical trials," said Professor Hadfield.

"Too often, geography determines healthcare opportunities. Our mobile clinical trials unit is changing that by bringing research directly to people in their own communities." 

The unit helps remove barriers such as travel time, cost and distance, making it easier for patients to participate in clinical trials while remaining close to their families and support networks.  

Clinical trials are an essential part of the healthcare system. Grampians Health provides access to clinical trials across Western Victoria, with more than 100 open trials across a growing range of clinical conditions. Its program is one of the largest in regional Victoria and is designed to help regional patients access advances in care closer to home.

With community support, Grampians Health plans to expand its clinical trials program further and develop a purpose-built Clinical Research Centre to ensure more people living in regional Victoria can benefit from the latest treatments without travelling to Melbourne. 

The Care Closer to Home appeal, was launched by Grampians Health on July 29 to raise funds for the development of the Clinical Research Centre. To learn more or support the appeal please visit: https://fundraising.gh.org.au/ballarat/care-closer-to-home/

The Site Spark Award reinforces Grampians Health’s position as a leading regional health service, providing access to innovative therapies and contributing to advances in healthcare for its rural and regional patients.

To learn more about Grampians Health research and clinical trials please visit: https://research.gh.org.au/