The University of Queensland's Clinical Trials Centre (UQ CTC) is a specialised centre that collaborates with health and medical researchers, clinicians and other partners in the design, conduct, analysis, publication, and translation of randomised clinical trials (RCTs).
Our collaborative approach
The UQ CTC is an interdisciplinary research development and delivery team with highly skilled members who have extensive experience in large-scale clinical trials. The CTC provides end-to-end collaboration on high-quality, UQ-sponsored, UQ investigator-led, RCTs that improve the health and well-being of Australians and beyond.
We collaborate with UQ Chief Investigators and their research teams throughout the entire clinical trial lifecycle, starting from the initial idea. We assist with funding applications, protocol development, and trial conduct through to data analysis, sharing of results and implementation and translation.
Our core capabilities include central trial management, statistics, trial quality assurance, and support for Consumer and Community Involvement (CCI). We work collaboratively to deliver database solutions and data management, ensuring each trial is supported by the most appropriate capability and infrastructure.
A core requirement of collaboration with the CTC is that central trial management and statistical functions are delivered by the CTC team. Additional CTC collaborative functions are agreed through consultation to address each trial's unique requirements and complexities.
We work together with ULTRA, a highly skilled interdisciplinary team focused on creating innovation in RCTs, to augment existing expertise and accelerate innovative RCT capability, capacity, co-ordination and competitiveness.
Leadership and governance
The Centre is led by Professor Nadine Foster, Academic Director; and Laura Pareezer, Associate Director and Head of Operations.
The UQ CTC Leadership Group provides strategic and operational oversight of the Centre. Drawing on deep expertise across clinical trials, the group guides the Centre's priorities and strategic growth, supports capability development, and informs decisions on trial collaborations.
| |
Nadine is an experienced clinical trialist, passionate about leading interdisciplinary teams that bring together the critical mass needed to design and conduct high quality randomised trials that impact on health and well-being. Her experience includes evaluations of conservative care interventions such as exercise and rehabilitation, combined physical and psychological therapies, surgery and new models of healthcare such as stepped care and stratified care. She joined The University of Queensland in 2020 and was appointed Academic Director of UQ Clinical Trials Centre in 2023. Nadine is also the program lead for the Health Research Accelerator (HERA) program ULTRA which means UQ’s Clinical Trials Capability. The CTC and ULTRA teams work in an integrated way to support clinical trial capability and capacity, co-ordination and competitiveness at UQ. In UQ CTC, Nadine provides academic leadership and research direction to the interdisciplinary team of CTC staff, ensures the CTC collaborates on a broad portfolio of clinical trials, and designs and conducts methodological research to improve how trials are conducted. With other academic staff Nadine is responsible for designing and conducting high quality clinical trials, mentoring and supporting the next generation of clinical trialists. | |
 Laura PareezerAssociate Director and Head of Operations | |
Laura is a senior research operations leader with extensive experience across research management, clinical trials, and strategic program delivery. She brings deep expertise in leading complex research environments, enabling high-quality outcomes across the full research lifecycle, from funding strategy and grant development to contract management, compliance, and post-award delivery. Laura has a strong foundation in clinical trial operations, having led research units and purpose-built research facilities to deliver high-quality, compliant studies. She has overseen trial feasibility, participant recruitment, protocol implementation, and data quality, while establishing robust governance frameworks, policies, and standard operating procedures to support safe and effective research activity. Her experience spans both clinical and translational research settings, where she has successfully balanced operational efficiency with rigorous regulatory requirements. In senior leadership roles, Laura has managed multidisciplinary teams, driven operational transformation, and implemented new operating models to improve performance and scalability. She has led the coordination of major research funding portfolios, supported competitive grant programs, and developed systems, policies, and training initiatives that strengthen organisational capability. At the UQ Clinical Trials Centre, Laura leads the operational strategy and delivery of complex clinical research programs, driving excellence in governance, regulatory compliance, and quality. She is recognised for building collaborative teams and enabling streamlined, high-performing research environments that deliver impactful clinical trials and meaningful health outcomes. | |
 Mark ChatfieldSenior Statistician | |
Mark is an experienced statistician and clinical trialist. Since 2002, he has been involved in numerous trials of various designs across a broad range of fields including: infectious disease, nutrition, respiratory disease, cerebral palsy and Indigenous health. He joined The University of Queensland in 2018 to collaborate with health and medical researchers. He plays an active role in the Australian Clinical Trials Alliance Statistics in Trials Interest Group. In the UQ CTC Mark provides statistical input into trial design, conduct, analysis, presentation and interpretation. | |
| |
Trudi has extensive experience as a clinical research professional with a track record of successfully managing investigator-initiated multi-site clinical trials at the University of Queensland. Trudi has also coordinated both early and late phase commercially sponsored trials and has experience in all aspects of clinical trial management from planning, start-up, execution through to close out. As an experienced clinical trial professional, she is focused on ensuring high quality execution of trials to ensure patient safety and quality trial outcomes. In the UQ CTC, Trudi provides strategic leadership and operational expertise in managing the clinical trials portfolio and supporting the establishment and day-to-day operations of the UQ Clinical Trials Centre. | |
 Anna MorrisProject Manager | |
Anna has managed and administratively enabled the successful delivery of a range of strategic and complex programs, projects, operations, and initiatives applied across research, government, healthcare, and innovation contexts. She has helped support the initial build and establishment of new health and government services and thrives on supporting teams that turn ideas into impactful outcomes. In the UQ CTC Anna facilitates the establishment and operationalisation of the Centre to achieve its strategic and operational goals, including design, implementation and continuous improvement of the Centre’s business systems, operations and processes. Anna manages projects and initiatives that support delivery of the CTC’s strategic priorities, including procurement, communications, collaboration processes, and governance and reporting activities. |
Trudi Cattley Who we work with
The CTC is agnostic to population, condition, disease, or field of expertise, accommodating the breadth of the current UQ RCT portfolio and UQ's future aspirations.
We collaborate on multi-centre RCTs, although may consider collaboration on feasibility and pilot studies; single-centre RCTs; high-impact cohort studies; or other studies with a high probability of leading to a multi-centre trial, or the potential to have considerable impact on practice or policy.
For CTC collaborators, our team undertakes central trial management and statistical functions for the trial, along with other functions and activities as agreed. We work alongside your team in the ideation and proposal development stage, then as co-applicants, project team delivery members and co-authors, as appropriate. We work in partnership to establish cost recovery associated with the UQ CTC collaborative functions from the funders of the trial.
UQ staff members and Academic Title Holders can find out more information and submit a request to collaborate with the CTC (staff login required).
We also welcome strategic partnership opportunities that strengthen connections between researchers, the health system, clinical trial sites, and industry partners to help transform clinical trial excellence in Queensland. Email uqctc@uq.edu.au to discuss potential partnerships.
