We work on a variety of projects from Phase I through to Phase IV, involving novel medications and innovative medical devices, across an array of therapeutic areas.  Our Customers are diverse and include small biotechnology firms to large multinational pharmaceutical companies, to medical device companies and other contract research organisations. They are located in Australia, Asia, North America and Europe. This provides our employees the opportunity to work on a range of stimulating and interesting clinical projects. It also provides them with the opportunity to grow and continually develop their clinical research skills and knowledge.

The company culture is focused on fostering and maintaining a positive, productive and professional work environment. In addition, we truly strive to make the workplace both fun and enjoyable.  Our Customer’s and colleagues always appreciate a sense of humour.  We greatly value the contributions our employees provide to our Customer’s projects and to Southern Star Research.

We’re looking for employees to join our team, who have passion, drive, can demonstrate proactivity, and who show a confident and professional approach to their work.

11 October 2012, Parliament House, Canberra  – AustralianClinicalTrials.gov.au Website Launch

Dr David Lloyd, Managing Director, Southern Star Research

Chair, Pharmaceuticals Industry Council Research & Development Taskforce

Member, Federal Government Clinical Trials Action Group Coordination Committee

This website is one of the first initiatives that has come out of the Clinical Trial Action Group report, that was commissioned by the Australian government in 2009.  I would like to thank the government for recognizing the important role clinical trials play in our healthcare system, and also for committing to implement reforms in this area.

It is worth noting that the Clinical Trials Action Group’s recommendations have been supported by all state and territory governments in Australia. This clearly indicates a commitment by policy makers support Australia as a destination for clinical trial investment.

The Australian ClinicalTrials website is part of that national strategy. It is a significant step forward in improving the overall clinical trial environment.

Patients will Benefit.

For the first time Australian patients can access a central source of information about clinical trials.  In many cases it will help demystify the clinical trials process and explain what a clinical trial is.

The new website provides an important link between Patients, Researchers and Companies in the development of new medicines and treatments. It will make it easier for patients to access information and help connect patients with clinical trials and potentially access new treatment options.

Doctors and Researchers will benefit. 

Australia is recognised for the world-class and high-quality medical research that is conducted in this country.  But researchers often find it difficult to recruit enough patients and healthy volunteers to participate in clinical research projects.  This website will help connect these researchers with appropriate patients for their studies.

It will also allow experienced researchers to keep up to date with the latest developments in the regulatory environment. And for those new to medical research, it provides a wealth of information and guidance.

Doctors too will be able to go to the website to find information about clinical trials.  There are factsheets available that will help doctors talk to their patients about clinical trials.

The new website will benefit companies and trial sponsors by helping to streamline the clinical trials process and allow them to compete more effectively for global investment.

The AustralianClinicalTrials website will have to evolve over time. There are many features, which will have to built into the system in the coming months and years, will make the website an even more effective tool, such as the ability for individuals to register their interest in participating in clinical trials. However, I expect the website which is being launched today to have both an immediate impact and also to become an integral part of the Australian healthcare system over the coming years.

I would like to thank the NHMRC and members of an expert panel who contributed to the development of this website. I would also like to acknowledge the contributions of my colleagues in the Research & Development Taskforce.  Finally I would like to thank Ministers Plibersek and Combet for recognizing the importance of clinical trials and in particular for their personal commitment to implementing reforms in this area.

There is still a lot to do, and I strongly urge the government to expedite the implementation of other reforms which will help make Australia one of the world’s leading locations for clinical trial investment.

24-27 June 2012 -  DIA 48^th Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA

Southern Star will be exhibiting at this meeting – Booth  1818

3 June 2012 – The NSW Government commits to supporting clinical trials and developing infrastructure to make the state of NSW a key destination for clinical trials.

Today Hon Jillian Skinner MP, NSW Minister for Health and Medical Research launched the report from the NSW Health and Medical Research Strategic Review. Two of the reports significant themes focused around Leadership in Clinical Trials as well as Improving NSW Health Research Administration.

The main recommendations, among other, affecting clinical trials, were;

• Establish a clinical trial support team within the Office of Medical Research
• Develop Phase I clinical trial capability in NSW
• Reduce barriers to clinical trials by faster start-up times and greater opportunities to recruit trial participants and engage clinical staff
• Reform of research governance and ethics processes

In addition the report recommended that the NSW State Government support the Federal Government’s Clinical Trial Action Group recommendations (refer news article 3 Mar2011).

In launching the report, Minister Skinner noted that the NSW Government has accepted the reports recommendations regarding clinical trials and has committed to implementing these measures.

The report and the NSW Government’s response to the report can be found at  http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/ohmr/gov_response.asp

15 June 2011

The Hon Kim Carr, Minister for Industry, Innovation, Science and Research announced that the new R&D tax Incentive would proceed as of the 1 July 2011. The R&D Tax Incentive provides a targeted tax offset designed to encourage more companies to engage in research and development in Australia.

The R&D Tax Incentive has two core components:

• a 45 per cent refundable tax offset (equivalent to a 150 per cent deduction) to eligible entities with an aggregated turnover of less than $20 million per annum
• a non-refundable 40 per cent tax offset (equivalent to 133 per cent deduction) to all other eligible entities.

The R&D Tax Incentive aims to:

• boost competitiveness and improve productivity across the Australian economy
• encourage industry to conduct research and development activities that may not otherwise have been conducted;
• provide business with more predictable, less complex support; and
• improve the incentive for smaller firms to engage in research and development.

3 March 2011

The Federal Department of Health and Aging in conjunction with the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research announce the release of the Clinical Trials Action Group report Clinically competitive: boosting the business of clinical trials in Australia. The Clinical Trials Action Group (CTAG) was established to identify and progress necessary reforms to secure Australia’s competitiveness in the clinical trials sector. A copy of the report can be viewed here[PDF 543KB] [RTF 267KB]

http://www.innovation.gov.au/Industry/PharmaceuticalsandHealthTechnologies/ClinicalTrialsActionGroup/Documents/Clinical_Trials_Action_Group_Report.pdf

The report recommends how to:

• make approval processes for clinical trials being conducted in different states and territories more efficient;
  • increase the benefits to the health system that come from e-Health reforms; and
  • encourage more people to be involved in clinical trials.

Events calendar

6-7 June 2012 – Visit us at Booth 32 at the ARCS conference, Darling Harbour, Sydney

24-27 June 2012 -  DIA 48^th Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA

Southern Star will be exhibiting at this meeting – Booth  1818

We look forward to seeing you there.  If you would like schedule a meeting time please contact  David Lloyd at   our contact page

2 May 2012,  Research and Ethics Governance Forum, Victorian Department of Health, Royal College of Surgeons, Melbourne

Dr David Lloyd to give a presentation on the progress and implementation of the Clinical Trials Action Group recommendations.

19-23 March 2012,  BioPharm Asia Conference, Marina Bay Sands Hotel, Singapore

Southern Star Research will be attending this meeting.

Please contact David Lloyd at, our contact page  if you would like schedule a meeting.

25 October 2011, ARCS Australia Leadership Forum and AGM, Sydney

Dr David Lloyd to give a presentation on the progress and implementation of the Clinical Trials Action Group recommendations.

16-19 October 2011, AusBiotech National Conference, Adelaide

Southern Star Research will be attending this meeting.

Please contact David Lloyd at,  our contact page  if you would like schedule a meeting.