A clinical trial is a research study which tests new treatments and medicines. These tests are vital to determine medication side effects and effectiveness for managing different medical conditions. Doctors rely on the outcomes of clinical trials when making decisions about prescribing medication and other treatments for their patients.
Many people like to volunteer to participate in clinical trials knowing that their involvement is contributing to a body of knowledge that will ultimately help people with the condition.
There are strict rules in Australia governing research activities and approval, and it is important to know that:
Below are a number of clinical trials that Epilepsy Action Australia supports. The listed research projects may be at different stages including: recruiting for participants,
Select each tile to learn more.
An online survey of Australian medicinal cannabis use over the past 12 months. Currently open
An observational study of safety and health-related outcomes in people with epilepsy undergoing medicinal cannabis therapy. It is recruiting. Contact Cannabis Access Clinic study team on 1300 991 477
The Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, University of Sydney Recruiting has reached capacity, but you can still add your name to the waitlist.
University of Melbourne, Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics are collecting information focusing on the patterns of use, effectiveness and safety of medicinal cannabis products prescribed in Australia.
Sydney Children’s Hospital Network. No longer recruiting.
The Lambert Initiative at the University of Sydney, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and Tilray.
The Lambert Initiative at the University of Sydney and South East Sydney Local Health District.
Cannabis containing equivalent concentrations of CBD and THC appears no less impairing than THC-dominant cannabis, and in some circumstances, CBD may actually exacerbate THC-induced impairment.
What is this study?
We are conducting a study to assess the safety and efficacy of our standardised CBD-rich medicinal cannabis in managing chronic conditions, including chronic pain, anxiety disorders, autism, PTSD, insomnia and epilepsy, that haven’t responded well to standard treatment options.
Who can participate?
People who are prescribed Bod medicinal cannabis, with the approval of the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and meet the eligibility criteria will be able to participate in this study.
How can I participate?
The study is being conducted through numerous medical clinics with doctors who are experts in cannabis medicines. Contact one of the clinics and ask about the Bod observational study to being assessing eligibility. A list of approved clinics can be found here
What does participation involve?
Participation in the study involves periodically completing online questionnaires on health outcomes and response to the cannabis medication using the study app or website for the duration of the study (up to 12 months).
Patients who participate will receive their first two bottles of medicine that are prescribed as complementary, and the medicines prescribed for the remainder of the study (up to 12 months) will be discounted. Pharmacy dispensing costs (typically no more than $30) and clinic consultation fees apply.
Click here for more information and an online referral form.
Are you interested in trialling medicinal cannabis?
Conducted by researchers at the University of Sydney, the QUality of life Evaluation STudy (QUEST Initiative) will be investigating the quality of life and health economic impact of prescribed medicinal cannabis on Australians with chronic disease over 12 months. The study is open to Australians with a range of conditions including chronic pain, cancer pain, neuropathic pain, insomnia, anxiety, multiple sclerosis and epilepsy.
You cannot participate if you are currently receiving medicinal cannabis treatment.
To learn more about the study, go to: https://www.thequestinitiative.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/201202_QUEST_ParticpantInfoStatement.pdf
To find out if you are eligible, Click Here
Recruitment ends 31 March 2022.
Applied Cannabis Research (ACR), is commencing Australia’s largest observational study ever undertaken for medical cannabis.
The Cannabinoid Medicine Observational Study (CMOS) will collect data from 20,000 patients nationwide to assess the safety and efficacy of medicinal cannabis products for a range of difficult to manage conditions including fibromyalgia, chronic pain syndromes, epilepsy and other neurological conditions, PTSD and other mental illness.
CMOS provides a first-of-its-kind opportunity to capture data from a broader range of Australian prescribers and patients than in existing studies. Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has now approved over 67,000 applications for medical cannabis. With a lack of randomised clinical trials within the space, there is an urgent need for large-scale evidence-based studies of prescribing medicinal cannabis. Feedback on treatment-related progress, dosing and side-effects is becoming increasingly relevant.
The CMOS study is open to both doctors and patients to get involved and can register their interest through either Patient or Doctor tab on the bottom of the page found here
People with epilepsy can register themselves into this study and do not need their treating doctor to register them.
This study will monitor several safety and health-related measures of patients engaged in medicinal cannabis treatment at Cannabis Access Clinics. This will help us gain a better understanding of the role of medicinal cannabis in treating various health conditions including epilepsy and help shape future clinical trials.
Recruitment: Open
Study: CANSLEEP Research Study
Research Collaborators: The Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, University of Sydney
About the Study: To assess the effects of a single dose of an oral cannabinoid medicine on sleep and next-day function relative to placebo in patients with chronic insomnia disorder. If eligible, participants need to attend the Woodcock Institute of Medical Research in Glebe, Sydney.
To get involved in the trial, check your suitability on the CANSLEEP Study website.
For more information, please contact the trial coordinator, Anastasia via email cansleep@woolcock.org.au or call 0439 804 551.
Recruitment: Open for Health Care Professionals and Patient Survey
Study: Australia Medicinal Cannabis Study
Research Collaborators:
About the Study: The surveys collect information focusing on the patterns of use, effectiveness and safety of medicinal cannabis products prescribed in Australia. The results of this study will be made available to researchers for further analysis and provide much needed information to guide policy decisions relating to medicinal cannabis in Australia.
The Australian Medicinal Cannabis Study began in late 2018 and will recruit participants over a 3 year period, with final surveys completed 15 months later.
For more information Click Here
Publication: Pending
Recruitment: Enrolments commenced early 2019 and no longer recruiting.
Study: Rett Syndrome Clinical Trial
Research Collaborators: Sydney Children’s Hospital Network
About the Study: Aims to evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of a new cannabis medicine called Cannabidivarin (CBDV).
Publication: Pending
Recruitment: Closed
Study: Knowledge and attitudes of Australian general practitioners towards medicinal cannabis.
Research Collaborators: The Lambert Initiative at the University of Sydney and HealthEd.
Chief Investigators: Professor Iain McGregor (Lambert Initiative, University of Sydney)
Completed: 2018
About the Study: A cross-sectional survey completed by 640 Australian General Practioners attending multiple-topic educational seminars in five major Australian cities between August and November 2017 was undertaken to assess the knowledge and attitudes of these clinicians toward medicinal cannabis.
Results: The majority of GPs (61.5%) reported one or more patient enquiries about medicinal cannabis in the past three months. Most felt that their own knowledge was inadequate and only 28.8% felt comfortable discussing medicinal cannabis with patients. Over half (56.5%) supported availability on prescription, with the preferred access model involving trained GPs prescribing independently of specialists. Support for use of medical cannabis was condition-specific, with strong support for use in cancer pain, palliative care and epilepsy, and much lower support for use in depression and anxiety.
Publication: https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/8/7/e022101
Recruitment: Closed
Study: Cannabis as Medicine Survey (CAMS16)
Research Collaborators: The Lambert Initiative at the University of Sydney and South East Sydney Local Health District.
Chief Investigators: Professor Nick Lintzeris (South East Sydney Local Health District)
Completed: 2018
About the Study: The CAMS (Cannabis As Medicine Survey) is the first large scale survey of medicinal cannabis users in Australia for more than a decade. The objective of this survey is to create a national snapshot of the demographics of medical cannabis consumers, the conditions being treated, patterns of cannabis use, perceived efficacy, and the physical and mental health of consumers. In 2016, the CAMS study surveyed 1,749 Australians who reported using cannabis for medicinal purposes.
Results: Results indicated that the primary conditions being treated included anxiety (50.2%), back pain (49.4%), depression (48.8%), and sleep conditions (43%). Inhaled route was the most common routes of administration. A third of patients spent $0-$50 on cannabis, suggesting a sizeable proportion of home grown supply. Respondents self-reported overwhelmingly positive changes in the primary health condition being treated as a result of cannabis use, with more than 90 percent of respondents reporting an improvement.
Publication: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.5694/mja17.01247
20-22 May 2021
Novotel Twin Waters Resort, Maroochydore, QLD
Our focus remains on helping patients get better access by providing better education of the health workforce and promoting development of a viable, professional and patient focused industry. Patients, Clinicians, Researchers and Industry come together to examine exciting developments and to hear from renowned experts from home and from around the globe.
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26-27 November 2021
Online
A FREE online event that brings Australia's and some of the world's most respected minds on Cannabis to your screen. Streamed Online from Brisbane, Australia - 26 & 27th of November, 2021
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29-31 October
Novotel Twin Waters Resort, Maroochydore, QLD
The 5th UIC Symposium of its type in Australia. Patients, Clinicians, Researchers and Industry come together to examine exciting developments and to hear from renowned experts from home and from around the globe.
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Tues 28th April 2020
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
Held as part of the 2020 Wellbeing Evidence and Horizons Conference, access the latest results from academic and research trials and hear the contemporary evidence to support medical cannabis as a valuable option for treating a range of symptoms.
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18-19 Apr 2020
Exhibition Park Canberra
Australia's largest cannabis and hemp event. Come and look, feel, taste, and experience the versatility and sustainability of this game-changing plant.
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21-22 Sept 2020
Holiday Inn Sydney Airport
The principle subject of the meeting is "Challenges and Barriers in Agronomy, Medicinal and upshot of Cannabis " which covers wide scope of fundamentally vital sessions.
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3-4 March
Melbourne
The event will draw together all facet of the industries ecosystem to connect, engage and build a framework to support patients’ well-being, enable best practice, and strengthen growth for the industry.
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22-24 March 2019
Tweed Heads, New South Wales
Over 3 days hear from world experts as we grapple with the problems around patient access, guidelines and supply. UIC seeks to bridge the information gap by once again promoting and showcasing global and domestic research and - importantly - placing patient issues and many would argue, human rights firmly back on the political, regulatory and clinical agendas.
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21-22 March 2019
Toronto, Canada
The most comprehensive forum on the science behind cannabis, its potential therapeutic benefits and the impact of legalization of recreational cannabis by leading researchers and physicians in the field.
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1-3 April 2019
Tel Aviv, Israel
Designed to provide a wide-angle lens on the medicinal cannabis industry this conference aims to showcase the most significant global industry leaders conducting workshops in the fields of research and science, medicine, finance, technology innovation, agriculture and government policy. Not to be missed!
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1-3 April 2019
Westgate Las Vegas
The conference will feature in-depth educational programming on cannabis cultivation and business operations, as well as the most informed industry perspectives on retail management and customer engagement. The Cannabis Conference exhibition hall will feature industry-leading technologies, solutions and services for the professional cannabis cultivator and retail businesses.
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8-10 April 2019
Baltimore, Maryland USA
This conference attracts cannabis industry experts, instrument manufacturers, testing labs, research scientists, medical practitioners, policy makers and interested novices. In 2019 the conference will offer expanded parallel medical & scientific technical sessions, academic cannabis sessions and new pharmaceutical cannabis sessions.
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18-19 May 2019
Sydney, Australia
Held over 2 days this event will have something for everyone. Come and look, feel, taste, and experience the excitement of a large number of exhibitors, showcasing everything from Hemp fibres, clothing, bedding, beauty and health products, medicinal hemp products, building materials, hydroponic equipment and supplies for industry and home hobbyists alike, innovative products and so much more.
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22-23 June, 2019
Adelaide, Brisbane
Hemp and Cannabis Expo covers everything from hemp clothing, food, homewares and skin care to the benefits of medicinal cannabis in one of the many workshops.
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30 June – 3 July 2019
Bethesda, Maryland USA
Focusing on scientific research in all fields of the cannabinoids such as the biochemical and physiological studies of the endogenous system and therapeutic application. The main role of the organisation is to provide an open forum for researchers to meet and discuss their research. Registrations opened 1 Jan 2019.
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4-6 September 2019
Portland, Oregon USA
This conference attracts cannabis industry experts, instrument manufacturers, testing labs, research scientists, medical practitioners, policy makers and interested novices. In 2019 the conference will offer expanded parallel medical & scientific technical sessions, academic cannabis sessions and new pharmaceutical cannabis sessions.
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October 2019 (dates to be advised)
Brisbane, Australia
Held over 2 days this event will have something for everyone. Come and look, feel, taste, and experience the excitement of a large number of exhibitors, showcasing everything from Hemp fibres, clothing, bedding, beauty and health products, medicinal hemp products, building materials, hydroponic equipment and supplies for industry and home hobbyists alike, innovative products and so much more.
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14-16 October, 2019
Tel Aviv, Israel
CannX is the leading international conference in medical cannabis held in partnership with Cann10 offering a cutting-edge program featuring the latest innovations and science behind medical cannabis, and a dynamic and lively exhibition.
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