PSYCHIATRY, INCLUDING PSYCHEDELIC, CLINICAL TRIALS SITE OPENS IN PRIMARY CARE SETTING Novel therapies drive demand for new Paratus Clinical site
With
Megan Morrison,
Chief Executive Officer, Paratus Clinical
Professor Paul Fitzgerald,
Principal Investigator, Paratus Clinical &
Head of School of Medicine and Psychology, Australian National University
Bernadette Fitzgibbon
Director of Psychiatry Research, Paratus Clinical &
Associate Professor, Australian National University
AUSTRALIAN HEALTH JOURNAL SEGMENT
Filmed in Melbourne | August 2025
Over the past decade, Paratus has been involved in over 200 clinical trials across 4 clinical site locations. Now a fifth site, the newly opened Melbourne site will cater to both primary care and psychiatry, specifically designed for psychedelic studies.
The new Melbourne site will be a focused on primary care studies specifically expanding access to psychiatric research, a growing area of unmet need. Australian Health Journal met with 3 recent hires brought in to support clinical trials across the organisation and in psychiatry in Melbourne.
– Megan Morrison, the recently appointed CEO of Paratus Clinical has 24 years of clinical research experience, industry knowledge and leadership, having worked across sponsor, CRO, and now site-side roles.
– Professor Paul Fitzgerald, the Director of the Australian National University School of Medicine and Psychology, provides senior academic leadership at Paratus Clinical as the Principal Investigator. Professor Fitzgerald is a renowned psychiatrist and researcher with over 25 years of experience leading clinical trials focused on psychiatric disorders. His pioneering work includes the development and evaluation of innovative treatments such as neurostimulation therapies (like transcranial magnetic stimulation) and novel pharmacological approaches. He plays a central role in trials in pharmacological-assisted psychotherapy and psychedelic compounds.
With extensive experience in conducting clinical research in psychiatry, Fitzgerald mentors the trial staff and ensures the integrity of the research protocols.
– Bernadette Fitzgibbon, the Director of Psychiatry Research at Paratus Clinical and Associate Professor at the Australian National University, has two decades experience in clinical research. She previously served as Deputy Director of the Monarch Research Institute and is affiliated with both Monash University and the Australian National University, contributing to national research efforts across psychiatry and psychology. She will collaborate closely with Professor Fitzgerald in running clinical trials in Melbourne.
Talking to Australian Health Journal, both Fitzgerald and Fitzgibbon highlight the growing need for innovative treatments in mental health, one which Paratus aims to address through a focused approach to psychiatric research.
Source: Adapted from transcript and Paratus Clinical news posts
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Australia’s Nursing Crisis Snapshot
“Nursing, already under pressure, is reaching breaking point due to the pressures of COVID-19 and a disjointed healthcare system, including the acute, primary and aged care sectors”, says Kylie Ward, Australian College of Nursing CEO adding, “We must act now to protect our nurses and healthcare; the time has come for a national reckoning on nursing in Australia.”
Australian nurses cannot continue to work under the extreme pressure they are currently operating under – the impacts are mounting.
The almost 400,000 Australian nurses are a constant presence in every one of our major life milestones, national emergencies and global crises. The nurse of today holds a science degree, possesses highly technical training, valuable medical opinions, front-row expertise, is an effective trainer, and is skilled in population and systemic thinking. But the pandemic is inflicting a major emotional and physical toll on nurses.
In this “Perspectives” special, Australian Health Journal spoke with 4 nurses on the challenges they or nurses in their circle have experienced, the key issues as well some of the opportunities. These nurses come from national leadership & policy, large scale workforce management, a final year student completing over a year on placement across 6 Melbourne Hospitals and a NSW based ICU nurse stranded in Mexico, unable to return to a critical role in nursing to an already strained team due to incoming quotas.
While the issues are challenging, there are strategies that can be put into place to ease the pressure, to support nurses, and nursing care in Australia. These are discussed by the the 4 nurses.
– Adjunct Professor Kylie Ward FACN CEO, Australian College of Nursing
– Adjunct Professor Alanna Geary FACN ACN Chair of Workforce Sustainability Policy Chapter & Chief Nursing & Midwifery Officer, Metro North Health
– Natalie Reyes, NSW based ICU Nurse Currently stranded in Mexico
– Hayley Pollock, Final Year Bachelor of Nursing Student & ACN Emerging Nurse Leader
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Mission to raise awareness of sarcoma and need for clinical trial funding
Sarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer, remains the deadliest cancer for children and young adults, accounting for nearly one third (30%) of cancer-related deaths among those aged 15–24 and one tenth (10%) of those aged 0–14. Further, still severely under-diagnosed, sarcoma only accounts for one sixth (15%) of all cancer diagnoses in the 15 – 24 age group, and less than a tenth (8%) among children under 10.
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Representing the profession that impacts individual lives and communities
Michelle Oliver is a highly experienced Occupational Therapist with nearly two decades of leadership and clinical expertise across the mental health, homelessness, and disability sectors. She holds a Master of Occupational Therapy from the University of South Australia and is a registered practitioner with AHPRA.
