Consumers are supporting us by providing a patient, carer and community perspective through membership on committees that govern our practices and strategic direction in research.
The Cabrini Research Committee (CRC) and Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) are responsible for guiding and advising on governance, risk and research strategy for Cabrini Research and Cabrini Health. The CRC acts as Cabrini Board’s principal advisor on Cabrini’s research strategies, oversees the conduct of Cabrini Research, and governs and oversees the conduct of research across Cabrini Health. The SAC duties and responsibilities include advising strategic direction of research, identifying opportunities and facilitating collaborations at other institutions, provision of peer review for programs and projects, and assessing and evaluating the quality of research at Cabrini.
The Cabrini Research Governance Committee (CRGC) reports to the CRC and convenes monthly to:
- review and approve new research projects
- monitor the conduct of all active research to ensure it affirms Cabrini’s mission and values and the teachings of the Catholic Church, and complies with the National Statement for Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2023) and other regulatory requirements
- oversee the implementation of and compliance with the National Clinical Trials Governance Framework (NCTGF)
Committee Member Profile – Dr David Denton AM RFD KC
After decades serving as King’s Counsel, Dr David Denton began exploring how he could further contribute to the community in meaningful and lasting ways. It was then that he was asked whether he would be willing to assist the CRGC, drawing on his expertise as a legal professional and experiences as a former patient at Cabrini.
Since joining the Committee, Dr Denton has observed the meticulous preparation involved in each meeting and “the level of objective professionalism exercised by the CRGC [that] is second to none.” Moreover, he sees its enormous value in considering proposed projects and how they could impact the lives of patients, not only in terms of clinical outcomes but also in promoting genuine engagement and empowering patients with knowledge.
Through these interactions, Dr Denton recognises that “consumer representatives are not merely a necessary evil inflicted on a committee but responsible reasonable bystanders.” He has also come to appreciate the end-to-end model of care research helps enable. “Research is of the essence of any significant medical institution in our nation [and] I am always left astonished at the amount of research undertaken at Cabrini.”
