VARN Newsletter Q1 2026
From the President's desk
Dear Members,
As we begin 2026, there are several emerging trends that will influence the design, execution and support methods we use for clinical trials over the coming year. AI is no longer viewed as an exploratory tool, its fast-becoming part of our working infrastructure, influencing many aspects from feasibility, design, site selection and data oversight. Site and investigator readiness is a priority, especially as trials become more complex. Participant-centricity is still a buzz word, particularly when it comes to engagement and retention strategies for inclusive recruitment. Advanced therapeutics, such as cell and gene therapy programs are continuing to expand, bringing
new operational demands for sites due to their high logistical, regulatory and long term follow up requirements. We on the committee have started planning the events for the year ahead, so keep reading for more information. Looking forward to seeing you all!! Tina.
Highlight on Achievements
We are proud to celebrate one of our committee members, Laura Chen, who’s recent publication sheds light on the experiences of clinical research nurses as
they transition from novice to expert, whilst highlighting the need for more formal mentorship and opportunities for career growth and development.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/share/WFJN7JUR8NYSNBQQ5GR6?target=10.1111/jan.70487
If you have any published articles or other important milestones you would like highlighted please let us know!!
Highlight on 2025 PD Day
We had a total of 43 Attendees
Key Insights from feedback (all scores out of 5.0);
- Speakers received the highest average rating (~4.6).
- Networking and Registration were also highly rated (~4.4).
- Relevance and Overall experience scored slightly lower (~4.2 and ~4.1).
- Common themes in feedback included appreciation for speakers, networking, and venue.
What’s new and coming up in 2026?
SAVE THE DATE!!
The committee is busy planning our Annual Members only dinner, which will be held on Thursday 28 May 2026...more information and the invite will come out soon!
The committee has booked in the date for the PD day - so keep it in your calendars; Friday 23 October 2026!
Fun Facts: Did you know that the average phase 3 clinical trial generates over 3.5 million data points, with numbers continuing to rise as trials incorporate more digital tools, wearables, sensors and remote monitoring methods. Sadly, more data does not equate to better or faster insights, as nearly 20% of the data collected is deemed non-
essential and only around 18% of the data collected is actually reported in the resulting peer-reviewed publications.
VARN Newsletter Q2 2025
From the President's desk
Thank you to those of you who were able to join us for our Annual Members only dinner in May. We took the opportunity to relax, enjoy some delicious food and share some stories that remind us why we love what we do. We were excited to have one of our committee members, Sam Bates present about the role of Research Nurses in communicating about the importance of research. We discussed Journal Clubs and the value of reading and understanding research articles in journals, including the fun ones! One example was an article published in the BMJ Christmas edition - The survival times of chocolates on hospital wards: covert observational study. Sam suggested we use the PICO format: Patient/Problem or Population - what are the characteristics/condition; Intervention or exposure what is happening to this group treat, diagnose or observe; Comparator - what is the alternative to the intervention - placebo, different drug, surgery; Outcome - what are the relevant outcomes - morbidity, mortality, complications. T can also be added, Time over what timeframe was the trial conducted. The committee are now preparing for our upcoming Professional Development day in October. We have locked in the date as Friday October 10th, so save the date!
Highlights from 2025 Annual Dinner!
We had 33 attendees at the dinner, which was held at the Cooper's Inn on Exhibition St, Melbourne.
• 87% of attendees Strongly Agreed that the event met their expectations.
• 92% of attendees Agreed or Strongly Agreed that the content was interesting and/or relevant.
• 100% of attendees would recommend this event to others - so keep this in mind for next year as this dinner is FREE for members!!
• The feedback from attendees around what they found most enjoyable about the evening was the opportunity to connect and network with other Research Nurses and Study Coordinators.
A couple of my favourite ridiculous studies are.
Why Do Cookies Break When Dunked in Tea? (1999) - $3.5 M, British scientists were given a multi-million-dollar grant to investigate why biscuits break when dunked in tea. The results: Cookies crack because of moisture absorption and structural weakness. (What a revelation!) Why it's ridiculous: Any grandma with a cup of tea could have explained this for free.
Do Drunk People Dance Differently? (2017) - $850,000 Scientists studied how alcohol affects dancing styles by getting volunteers drunk and filming them. The results: Drunk people move their arms more and use wider leg stances. (Wow.) Why it's ridiculous: Any wedding or nightclub already provides free evidence of this.
The 2025 VARN Inc Annual Professional Development Day is planned for Friday the 10th of October 2025. More details to follow closer to the date. Two VARN Inc Professional Development Grants of up to AU$1000 are available to those who have been financial members of VARN for at least 2 years. The grants are intended to help offset the costs of professional development activities such as: Undertaking tertiary study that is relevant to your professional career in research, attending a course, conference or workshop to further your professional development. Please email us for an application form. The Grant recipients will be announced at the PD day in October.
Full Newsletter link as below:
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/tina-thorpe-681936161_varn-inc-newsletter-q2-2025-activity-7346732321099653120-hnyl?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAACbCW0EBNosun-LDfPlHgEgid6q5oIQy7nk