Clinical trials are a crucial part of the research undertaken at Melanoma Institute Australia. Coordinated from the Poche Centre in Wollstonecraft and conducted at locations throughout our network, these trials help us find better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat melanoma, as well as help improve the quality of life of melanoma patients.

All of MIA’s clinical trials follow a strict protocol approved by a Human Research Ethics Committee. This committee ensures that the rights, safety and wellbeing of participants are protected throughout the trial.

Patients – To read more about participating in Clinical Trials see here.

Clinicians – For information on referring patients to an MIA Clinical Trial see here.

Download our Clinical Trial brochure to find out more about clinical trials.

Current Clinical Trials

Please use the Stage tabs below to find a suitable clinical trial being run at MIA. Includes Melanoma and Non-Melanoma trials which are currently recruiting and trials that will open soon.

Clinical Trial Types and Phases

Clinical Trial Types

The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) classify clinical trials into five types as follows:

1. Treatment Trials– the most common type of trial involving testing experimental treatments such as new drug combinations or new approaches to surgery or radiotherapy.
2. Prevention Trials – test new ways to prevent disease and disease recurrence.
3. Screening Trials – test the most effective way to detect a disease.
4. Diagnostic Trials– conducted to find better ways to diagnose disease.
5. Quality of Life Trials (or Supportive Care Trials)– explore ways to improve the comfort and quality of life for people with a disease.

Clinical Trial phases

New treatments must go through three “phases” of trials before they can be considered for use;

  • Phase 1 – Involves only a small number of participants where a range of dosage levels are tested and any side effects analysed.
  • Phase 2 – Involves a larger group of participants where a more detailed evaluation of safety and effectiveness is conducted.
  • Phase 3 – Involves a much larger group of participants where the experimental treatment is formally compared with the current standard treatment by randomly allocating each treatment across the test group.Random treatment allocation is necessary in Phase 3 trials to ensure the treatments can be compared without bias. Neither the patient nor the trial team can choose which treatment is received. If the trial involves a new drug it is possible that the patient and the trial team might not be told which treatment group you are in; this is known as blinding and is used to prevent bias. In some trials experimental treatments are compared with a placebo – an inactive pill, liquid or powder that has no treatment value. Patients are informed if the trial being considered is blinded or placebo controlled.