From Lab to Life

Before taking part in a medical or health study, participants need to give their informed consent in a Participant Information and Consent Form (PICF). The purpose of the PICF is to provide information about what the study involves so potential participants can decide if it is right for them. Over the years PICFs have become increasingly complex and legalistic, meaning that it’s hard for people to fully understand what they need to know before deciding to participate. In this episode of From Lab to Life called “Becoming InFORMed” we hear the remarkable story of the development of the new, easy-to-understand InFORMed PICF and how it became adopted for use across Australia. 

Australia’s largest provider of Human Research Ethics Committee services, Bellberry, and ASCEPT (Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists & Toxicologists) have been working together to develop robust guidance for the use of NAMs (New Approach Methodologies) Following the last workshop, Alison Rogers spoke with three leaders in the field to find out more about this growing alternative technology to kick off the 2026 series of From Lab to Life.

Worldwide there is growing focus on using NAMs (Non-Animal Models also known as Novel Approach Methods) in the development of therapeutics. In other words, removing animals from pre-clinical testing. In this episode of From Lab to Life, we take you to a NAM symposium hosted by Bellberry and ASCEPT (Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists) held late in 2024.

In 2004 Bellberry was founded as a disrupter and paradigm breaker. An institutionally independent not-for-profit company that offers Human Research Ethics Committee services.  Today Bellberry provides ethics reviews for more than 40% of the CTN clinical trials that take place in Australia and has re-invested $12 million into the research sector.  In 2024 we celebrated 20 years of Bellberry with a focus on the difference we’ve made since we began. This was recognised with Bellberry winning the Telstra Best of Business award for Championing health late last year.  In this episode of 'From Lab to Life' we hear from some of the people we work with about the impact of Bellberry.

In “The Balancing Act” we meet Professor Andrew Wilson AO, the recently retired Chair of the PBAC. Andrew is a former Chief Medical Officer of Victoria and has spent his career trying to get the best possible outcomes in public health through our state and federal governments. For someone focused on evidence based research, engaging in the political system can be a huge challenge.