About Us

Our Focus

Our specialised team of primary care researchers develop and conduct clinical trials with a wide range of collaborators. Our focus is on health services research and implementation science using primary care innovation, clinical data analytics and linkage and co-design with consumers and practitioners.

We are experts in research and implementation in the complex, multidisciplinary primary care environment. We also develop and conduct process and outcome evaluations. These determine whether the intervention has been implemented as intended. Qualitative studies are often used for this because they offer contextualised insights into the trial. Our expertise includes:

  • Practice and participant recruitment
  • Implementation science
  • Design and development of complex interventions
  • Clinical and health services research
  • Co-design working with the consumer interface
  • Data linkage within and across sectors
  • Use of de-identified GP patient data in trials and evaluations (Data for Decisions - using data from the Patron Program of Research)
  • Risk stratification

What We Do

  • Trial protocol development
  • Sample size calculations
  • Trials management
  • Recruitment and promotion
  • Randomisation schedules
  • Development of Statistical Analysis Plans (SAP)
  • Process and outcome evaluation
  • Database development (including bespoke tracking databases)
  • Data management and processing
  • Co-design expertise at the clinical interface
  • Processing and analysing large clinical datasets extracted from General Practice records
  • Research translation and implementation for improved clinical practices and better patient outcomes

Driving Innovation in Primary Care - The role of the PTCU

Our Primary Care Trials Unit showcases how patients and general practices across Australia are empowered to participate in innovative, inclusive research. Learn how we are using secure, nationwide technology to make primary care studies more relevant and impactful for both patients and clinicians. Credit to VCCC for the original video content.

How We Do It

Primary Care Database

Victorian Research and Education Network (VicREN)

VicREN is a primary care, practice-based research and education network managed by The University of Melbourne. This specialised network enables us to facilitate collaborative research in a broad range of primary care settings. Our collaborators can benefit from various levels of assistance depending on their individual trial needs.

Expert Collaboration

Work Alongside our Academic Researchers

Department of General Practice and Primary Care Academic GPs are often available to collaborate on general practice projects arising outside of our Department. This can have many benefits. The extent of the collaboration varies from project to project. Our collaborators benefit by utilising our extensive research expertise, which includes designing studies for the unique general practice environment, providing methodological advice around recruitment of GPs/practices and patients, and the creation of appropriate recruitment materials and advertisements.

Marketing and Comms

Targeted Advertising and Promotion

Utilising our extensive newsletter subscriber base to distribute and promote marketing materials to GPs, practice managers, practice nurses and broader primary care organisations.

Clinical Trial Recruitment

General Practice and Patient Recruitment

The level of involvement can range from:
- Identifying a GP/practice that may be interested in a study and passing on details to a researcher and/or recruiting a GP advisor / associate investigator for a study
- Engaging with and visiting practices, educating staff about study details, and gaining their consent to participate
- Recruiting patients for trials within consenting practices under direction from the research team
- Identifying patients who may be eligible in our Data for Decisions/ Patron Program of Research and working with the GP practice to recruit them
- Organising and hosting events, e.g. focus groups