Synopsis:Trials are an important aspect of establishing evidence for the effectiveness of new and established treatments. There are considerable challenges in doing trials, especially in children. This talk will outline some of those challenges. Successful and clinically important trials require carefully considered designs, experienced staff and substantial resources. The Melbourne Children’s Trials Centre has been established with the support of the Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation and all Campus Partners. The centre will enlarge and focus resources with an emphasis on innovation, efficiency, facilities and skill development. This will enable Melbourne Children’s to be a leading centre for paediatric trials.

Speaker:Associate Professor Andrew Davidson is Medical Director for the Melbourne Children’s Trials Centre. He is also a Senior Staff Anaesthetist at RCH, Anaesthesia Research Group Leader at MCRI and an Associate Professor, University of Melbourne Department of Paediatrics. He is also the Lennard Travers Professor, Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists and Editor in Chief Elect for the journal Pediatric Anesthesia. His research interests include anaesthesia neurotoxicity, depth of anaesthesia, research ethics and clinical trials.