Empowering the Nurse Researcher: Enhancing clinical trial leadership and protocol co-design

About the research project

Nurses are Australia’s largest health workforce yet are vastly underrepresented in clinical research funding and leadership (Eckert et al. 2022). While clinical research nurses are essential to ensuring patient safety, accurate reporting, and ethical study conduct, they are rarely recognised or included as formal research investigators (Levy et al 2014).

This project seeks to understand the landscape and facilitate nursing involvement in clinical trial protocols within palliative care and oncology collaborative trial groups. There is currently no consensus regarding systematic ways to recognise or include nurses as research investigators in the clinical trial process. This research will be pivotal in defining the unique, invaluable contributions nurses can make in this leadership role.  

Underpinned by Holden’s (2012) framework of research culture and capacity, this project seeks to develop research culture at the individual, team, and organisational levels. The research will explore practical, systemic ways to build the research capabilities of clinical trials nurses and facilitate their integration into protocol investigator teams. The project also seeks to understand if nursing involvement in trial protocol development has the potential to optimise trial recruitment in the design of more patient-centric, efficient recruitment pathways; streamline operations by proactively identifying challenges to reduce the costly need for multiple protocol amendments; and enhance trial conduct by reducing protocol violations and deviations during the trial period.

This project will build upon preliminary research undertaken within two national clinical trials collaboratives, including data collected on the role and impact of the inclusion of nurses’ perspectives in clinical trial investigator teams, to other national trial collaboratives.

Aim

To develop an evidence-informed framework and recommendations for the role of nurses as protocol investigators within palliative care and cancer clinical trial teams through the synthesis of existing evidence and consensus among key stakeholders.

Objectives

1. Synthesise the evidence describing the involvement of nurses in clinical trial investigator teams (systematic or scoping review).
2. To explore the perspectives and experiences of key stakeholders on the current and potential role, scope and value of nurses as protocol investigators within national cancer and palliative care clinical trial collaboratives (qualitative focus groups).
3. To establish expert consensus on the competencies, governance structures and supports required for nurses to undertake protocol investigator roles (Delphi study).
4. To develop evidence-based recommendations for the implementation and advancement of nurse protocol investigator roles within clinical trial settings (Integration of review, focus group and Delphi findings).

Primary supervisor

Meet Doctor Angela Rao-Newton

Funding

Applicants will self fund their studies, no Living Allowance scholarship is available for this project.

If successful, international applicants may receive a University of Tasmania Fees Offset for up to four years.

Other funding opportunities and fees

For further information regarding other scholarships on offer, and the various fees for undertaking a research degree, please visit our Scholarships and fees on research degrees page.

Eligibility

Applicants should review the Higher Degree by Research minimum entry requirements.

Ensure your eligibility for the scholarship round by referring to our Key Dates.

Additional eligibility criteria specific to this project/scholarship:

• Applications are open to a registered nurse in any area of specialisation.
• Applications are open to domestic/on-shore students only.

Selection criteria

The project is competitively assessed and awarded. Selection is based on academic merit and suitability to the project as determined by the College.

Additional essential selection criteria specific to this project:

• Clinical trial experience and/or experience as a research nurse, or previous involvement in clinical research projects, are advantageous.

Application process

1. Select your project, and check that you meet the eligibility and selection criteria, including citizenship;
2. Contact Doctor Angela Rao-Newton to discuss your suitability and the project's requirements; and
3. In your application:
   • Copy and paste the title of the project from this advertisement into your application. If you don’t correctly do this your application may be rejected.
   • Submit a signed supervisory support form, a CV including contact details of 2 referees and your project research proposal.
4. Apply prior to 31 December 2026.

Full details of the application process can be found under the ' How to apply ' section of the Research Degrees website.

Following the closing date applications will be assessed within the College. Applicants should expect to receive notification of the outcome by email by the advertised outcome date.

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