How Novatrials Got Started

How Novatrials Got Started

Every big idea starts somewhere. For Novatrials co-founders Karen Brennan and Toni McCallum Pardey, it started with a simple but powerful belief: that people living outside of major cities deserve access to the best medical treatments, not just those lucky enough to live near a capital city hospital.

Founded in 2013 in Newcastle, NSW, Novatrials began as a small outpatient clinical trials unit. Karen and Toni built the organisation on a clear vision from day one, to bring cutting-edge medical research to regional communities and give everyday Australians a chance to shape the future of medicine.

"We wanted to prove that world-class clinical research didn't have to be confined to capital cities. The Hunter community deserved the same access to new treatments as anyone else in Australia," said Toni.

So, what exactly is a clinical trial? Before any new medication or treatment can be used by the public, it has to be rigorously tested to make sure it's safe and effective. Clinical trials are the research studies that make that happen. Real people volunteer to try new treatments, and their responses help scientists work out whether something works, how much is the right dose, and whether there are any side effects. It's genuinely life-changing work, and it needs people just like you.

What made Newcastle the perfect home for Novatrials? As it turns out, Newcastle is something of a demographic goldmine. It reflects the broader Australian population closely, with a strong community culture around research participation and more than 60 years of product and market testing history. Toni and Karen recognised early on that this made it a brilliant place to run trials that truly matter.

"Newcastle isn't just a convenient location. It's a community that genuinely wants to be part of something bigger, and that spirit has been central to everything we've built here," said Karen. 

From those humble beginnings, Novatrials has grown into something remarkable. Today, it's the largest clinical trials centre outside any capital city in Australia: a purpose-built, state-of-the-art facility with 31 beds and 12 consultation rooms. The team has completed more than 90 clinical trials across phases 1 to 3, coordinating over 3,000 participants and consistently hitting recruitment targets.

The scope of work is broad too. Novatrials has run trials across cardio-metabolic, endocrinology, dermatology, infectious diseases, women's health, vaccines, and much more, engaged by major pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology firms, and academic institutions from around the world.

But behind all the growth and the impressive numbers, Karen and Toni will tell you the heart of Novatrials remains the same as it was in 2013.

As Karen puts it, "It is only through the willingness of clinical trial volunteers that we can advance medicine and continue changing lives."

Want to be part of something bigger? Check out our list of currently enrolling clinical trials on our study page.