A new Clinical Research Facility at RMIT University's Bundoora campus is set to become a  hub for community-based clinical trials, hosting the largest primary prevention aspirin study ever undertaken in older Australians.

 

The new facility will host the Monash University-led ASPREE (Aspirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly) study and will also host two RMIT-led clinical trials, TARGET-Diabetes and DAIRY-FIT.

 

 

The ASPREE study, which is investigating if daily low-dose aspirin can help maintain good physical and mental health in the elderly, aims to have 12,500 healthy participants aged 70-plus in Victoria, Tasmania, the ACT and South Australia by mid-2013. Almost 6,000 participants are currently enrolled in the trial nationally. The ASPREE northern hub encompasses Banyule, Darebin, Diamond Valley, Moreland, Nillumbik and Whittlesea.

 

TARGET-Diabetes is a project funded by the Diabetes Australia Research Trust, which will provide evidence to guide the clinical management of heart medication in people living with diabetes. The DAIRY-FIT project, funded by the Dairy Health and Nutrition Consortium and led by RMIT Professor John Hawley, is investigating the role of dairy-rich products and exercise in healthy weight loss.

 

Dr Matthew Linden, principal investigator and manager of the new Clinical Research Facility, said the major ASPREE trial was expected to be the first of many collaborative community-based clinical trials at the facility.

 

"With the launch of this research facility, and through our partnership with ASPREE and Monash University, RMIT is creating a new focus on community-based clinical research in the northern suburbs," Dr Linden said.

 

"We plan for many more high-level studies that will engage the community and involve local GPs, nurses, and pharmacies in research which until now, has been restricted to the hospital setting.

 

"ASPREE, TARGET-Diabetes and the DAIRY-FIT projects are great examples of the type of collaborative, community research that will be supported by RMIT through this landmark new facility."

 

Principal Investigator to ASPREE, Professor John McNeil, said the study would provide new and extremely relevant information on whether aspirin can help prevent or delay the onset of common age-related diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, dementia and some cancers.

 

"The ASPREE study will determine if aspirin can help keep older people healthier for longer and if it should be routinely taken or not," Professor McNeil said.

 

More information is here.