NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre

The NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre provides methodological support, training and coordination services for clinical trials conducted in Australia and New Zealand. It assists researchers, sponsors and ethics committees with trial design, protocol development, data management and regulatory compliance. The centre also hosts the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, which facilitates trial registration, updates and user account management for the regional research community. Its services aim to enhance the quality, transparency and ethical standards of clinical research across the region.

Based at the University of Sydney in Australia, the centre operates as an academic unit within the university’s Sydney Medical School. It serves the Australian and New Zealand clinical trial sector, drawing on the university’s research infrastructure and the NHMRC’s national health research mandate. While specific staff numbers or annual trial volumes are not disclosed in the available sources, its reach extends to investigators and organisations throughout both countries.

A distinguishing attribute of the centre is its dual role as a specialist clinical trials methodology hub and the host of the WHO‑accredited primary trial register for Australia and New Zealand. This registration function places it within the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, supporting global trial transparency initiatives. The centre’s joint affiliation with the NHMRC and the University of Sydney gives it a unique position to combine policy guidance with academic expertise in trial conduct. It also delivers educational programmes and workshops that build capacity in clinical trial design, implementation and reporting among researchers and clinicians.

Structurally, the NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre is a joint initiative of the National Health and Medical Research Council and the University of Sydney, operating as a non‑profit academic centre within the university. It is not a separate legal entity but rather a specialised centre embedded in the university’s research and teaching framework. Its governance reflects the collaborative oversight of both the funding agency and the host institution, ensuring alignment with national health research priorities and academic standards.