WHEN Greta's Bryanna Budge found out she was pregnant she was bursting to tell her loved ones about her bundle of joy.
As soon as she reached 18 weeks, she took to social media to announce her good news with her friends and family.
But then the unthinkable happened and Ms Budge went into early labour. Sadly, she delivered a beautiful, stillborn baby who she called Olivia, in May 2022.
"I had a stillbirth and there was no real reason for it," the 29-year-old said.
Six weeks later Ms Budge met with Hunter Medical Research Institute's (HMRI) professor and Mother and Babies research program co-director, Craig Pennell.
"I met with Pennell to find out why it might've happened, the cause.. and if I do fall pregnant again, he said he would do everything in his power to make sure it was successful," she said.
Fortunately five months later Ms Budge found out she was pregnant again when she decided to take a pregnancy test on the day of Olivia's due date.
It was a tumultuous time for Ms Budge and her partner who were filled with excitement, but also feared losing another child.
"I ended up in hospital at nine weeks with a subchronic hematoma. I called Pennell and he dropped everything to come and see me," she said.
"He said the baby was fine, her heart beat was there and then the decision was made to put me through a clinical trial."
Ms Budge was put on medications as part of a clinical trial that had never been done before, through HMRI's Mothers and Babies Research Program and New 1000.
"I would do whatever it takes to make sure my baby was going to be safe," she said.
She gave birth to a gorgeous and healthy baby girl in June, 2023 who she called Alirah.
Coinciding with the Australian Society of Medical Research (ASMR) Medical Research Week from October 21 to 28, Ms Budge said being part of HMRI's clinical trial had been a safety net in a difficult time.
"They put in so much care and thought and I never felt safer at such a scary time. I was so anxious I was going to lose another baby," she said.
"I felt like I was the only patient and I know there were hundreds."
As part of the treatment, Ms Budge received fortnightly scans, tests and access to expert advice.
"It was really beneficial I owe my life to him [Pennell]. I wouldn't have my little girl without his help," she said.
'Hell yeah, it helped me'
For 81-year-old stroke survivor Dave Wilmoth, participating in the Esteem clinical trial was "the best thing he ever participated in".
The Swansea resident had a basal ganglia stroke three years ago and ended up in hospital for eight weeks.
"It hit the right side of my brain, leaving the left side of my body partially incapacitated," he said.
"I had problems with speech, I was very fortunate it didn't affect my eyesight or totally cripple me."
It was still a difficult time for Mr Wilmoth who was a builder and had never been sick before.
"I get a bit emotional when I think about it. The stroke was a traumatic experience ... to all of a sudden be thrown into this parallel universe which became my reality," he said.
He said the clinical program was adjusted to his needs and is grateful for how it has allowed him to move forward in his life.
"It was brilliant. Hell yeah it helped me. I am walking, speaking and talking today because of these people. I can't speak highly enough of it," he said.
Low participation rates
While there have been several success stories from clinical trials in the Hunter, HMRI CEO professor Frances Kay-Lambkin says participation rates remain low due to the lack of trust from the general public and lack of funding for regional projects.
"It's getting increasingly harder to encourage our community members to participate in research like clinical trials," she said.
She said there is a gap in information for people knowing where they can access clinical trials and also questioned if COVID or recent cyber security breaches had put people off participating.
"It can also be laborious with questionnaires because there's a lot of regulation and control around the brand new treatments and a lot of visits," she said.
"There's also the fear of the unknown and what is this treatment going to do or maybe you're going to put all this effort in and maybe you're going to get a placebo or not the active treatment."
'Destination of choice'
Professor Kay-Lambkin said HMRI can be a destination of choice for clinical trials, but it comes down to engaging the community.
"It can be really hard to get funding for good clinical trials, and if the community doesn't want to come in then people won't bring their funding," she said.
She said HMRI wants to give people in the region the best and latest treatment.
"To be able to provide people here with those opportunities so that there's always an answer. There's always a clinical trial," she said.
On average about five per cent of the Hunter population participates in research through clinical trials.
"I'd love to be 50 per cent. We are only probably attracting about less than one per cent of the clinical trials activity in Australia to the region, so we've got a lot of area and opportunity to grow," professor Kay-Lambkin said.
She said the Hunter New England Health region is in a prime position to be a gateway to clinical trials elsewhere in Australia.
"If we can connect our community in the way with clinical trials and with research, that means everyone who's got a clinical trial in Australia will want to come here because you can do it all very quickly very easily in the one place," she said.
In the HNELHD region there are around 30 clinical trials happening for treatment of diabetes, stroke, cancer and mental illness.
