To view the procedure you must follow to seek approval for your research study to be advertised on the ARA website click here.
Information regarding studies that are currently recruiting participants can be found below.
The Arthritis Australia website also has a page where consumers can express interest in joining a research study.
Project Title
Managing Gout in Dialysis: Insights from Health Practitioners
Principal Investigators
Project Team
Broad Aims of this Project
Primary objective: • To understand prescribers’ experience with gout management in dialysis to complement the understanding of research findings
Secondary objectives: • To gain insight into the variations in practitioners’ views and practices • To inform future research on gout management in patients undergoing dialysis.
Reason for Doing this Research Project
This project is part of a PhD thesis. It aims to answer the following research question: What are the views, experiences, and practices of rheumatology and nephrology health practitioners of gout management in patients with gout and kidney failure initiated on dialysis?
We are trying to obtain further information from prescribers (nephrologists, rheumatologists, and renal nurse practitioners) to enable understanding the rationale behind the current practices of gout management in dialysis observed in our clinical chart review, complement the understanding of research findings, and form a basis for effective design of future prospective studies that provide evidence for optimal gout management in dialysis.
Recruitment of Participants and Target Audience
We will recruit rheumatologists and nephrologists/ renal nurse practitioners who are willing to participate, give informed consent and agree to be recorded in an interview. No formal screening will be conducted prior to consenting. However, purposive sampling from the expressions of interest received will be employed to include different viewpoints on gout management in dialysis as well as various ranges of experience and settings (different unit sizes and locations: metropolitan and rural).
Ethics Approval Details
The University of Sydney Human Research Ethics Committee T: +61 2 9036 9161 E: human.ethics@sydney.edu.au W: intranet.sydney.edu.au/ethics ABN 15 211 513 464 CRICOS 00026A
Summary
How to manage gout in patients undergoing dialysis is unclear due to conflicting evidence in the literature and the absence of strong evidence-based guidelines. As such, in this patient population there is no consensus on whether urate-lowering therapy, such as allopurinol, is required. In practice, the actions of prescribers and their justifications for these actions are unknown and this presents a significant gap in achieving best practice through evidence. This qualitative study aims to understand the views of prescribers (rheumatology and nephrology disciplines practicing in key dialysis centres) on how they manage gout in their patients initiated on haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis, including allopurinol use. Findings from the study will further understandings of current practice, informing future clinical studies assessing the impact of the various gout management strategies in patients receiving dialysis. Additionally, findings will inform contemporary clinical discussions on gout management in dialysis.
For Further Information:
Noha Kamel E: nkam0534@uni.sydney.edu.au M: +61 410 873 033
Research Study Closes: 31 May 2026 Date Posted: 7 October 2025
The RA-HEAL trial: Resilience And Healthy Lifestyle for Rheumatoid Arthritis
This trial will evaluate the impact, fidelity, feasibility, acceptability, and safety of a person-centered multicomponent wellbeing and lifestyle program for adults with rheumatoid arthritis. It is hypothesised that the intervention will:
Reason For Doing This Research Project
This experimental trial will aim to include approximately 150 participants recruited from arthritis clinics at the PA Hospital, referral from rheumatology private practice clinics as well as patients who self-refer directly to the study team. Participants will be randomized to either an intervention group or standard of care group. The intervention group will receive a structured, multi-disciplinary support program, delivered over 24 weeks by experts in Clinical/Health Psychology, Exercise Physiology, Nutrition and Dietetics, and Tobacco Treatment Specialisation. Individual assessments will be done at the Princess Alexandra Hospital at Baseline and 6, 12,18 and 24-month post-intervention. Assessment will include:
Recruitment of Participants and Selection Criteria
Direct to patient: We are seeking to advertise the study so that patients themselves might be able to contact the team and self-refer onto the trial.
Rheumatologists: We would like rheumatologists within the South East corner of QLD to be aware that we are running the study, and for them to be able to suggest to their newly diagnosed RA patients that this study might be of benefit to them,
Eligibility
We are looking for people who are:
Please note that this this study is only suitable for participants in South East Queensland. Participants will continue to be medically managed for their RA by their own rheumatologist.
What's In It For You?
Register Your Interest
To find out more send the team an email at fi.thomasresearch@uq.edu.au
or
To leave your details and answer some basic questions about your suitability for the study, click this link https://uniofqueensland.syd1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_et8c1m9EIWLejNs
Ethics approval has been granted by the Metro South HREC (Princess Alexandra Hospital) as well as being ratified by both the University of Queensland and Griffith University. This study has been approved by The University of Queensland Human Research Ethics Committee [Approval No.2025/HE000486].
Time Period of the Research Project
Recruitment into the trial has already commenced. The full cohort of participants is hoped to be enrolled within a 12 month period between June 2025 and May 2026. The follow-up period is 2 years, so we will look to have the last patient last visit completed in 2028.
For Further Information Contact
Paul Christensen RN Research Nurse – The Frazer Institute, University of Queensland E: Paul.christensen@uq.edu.au Phone: 07 3443 6992 or 0417 108 585
Research Study Closes: 31 May 2026 Date Posted on ARA website: 18 September 2025
Project Title Current practice of corticosteroid injection for common foot and ankle conditions in Australia
Reason for Doing this Research Project Researchers at La Trobe University are completing a study about the current use of corticosteroid injection for foot and ankle conditions. This research is being done to learn more about the corticosteroid, local anaesthetics, and injection techniques that are being used in Australia for common foot and ankle conditions. This research is being completed as part of an Honours project.
There are a range of corticosteroids, anaesthetics, and injection techniques used to administer corticosteroid injection, with selection of each variable currently based on opinion. Past research has found that selection of corticosteroid and injection techniques varies across disciplines and geographical regions, however there is no research that has evaluated corticosteroid injection use for foot and ankle conditions by Australian health professionals. Understanding how Australian health professionals use corticosteroid injection to manage common foot and ankle conditions can inform future randomised trials comparing the effectiveness of corticosteroids and injection techniques.
We hope to learn about the corticosteroid, local anaesthetics, and injection techniques that are being used in Australia for common foot and ankle conditions. Understanding this can inform future randomised trials comparing the effectiveness of corticosteroids and injection techniques.
Recruitment of Participants and Selection Criteria Participants will be health professionals who currently practice in Australia and administer corticosteroid injection to manage foot and ankle conditions. The health professionals that will be targeted for this study include orthopaedic surgeons, radiologists, rheumatologists, podiatrists, and podiatric surgeons.
Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria
Ethics Approval Details This research has been reviewed and approved by The La Trobe University Human Research Ethics Committee. If you have any complaints or concerns about the research study please email humanethics@latrobe.edu.au or phone +61 3 9479 1443 quoting the following number HEC24151
Link To Take Part In The Study https://redcap.latrobe.edu.au/redcap/surveys/?s=8J4T7YCLCAJKXJCD
Time Period of the Research Project Anticipated finish date February 2026
For Further Information Contact Glen Whittaker: g.whittaker@latrobe.edu.au / 0414777165
Research Study Closes: 28 February 2026 Date Posted: 25 February 2025
Project Title A multicentre, open-label randomised controlled trial of DMARD dose maintenance (USUAL CARE) vs DMARD discontinuation after reduction (TAPER) in adult patients with rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis (RA and PsA) on stable b/tsDMARD therapy +/- csDMARD/s, who are in sustained low disease activity at baseline for cost-utility comparison and multiomic mechanistic analyses to predict success of down-titration strategies
Reasons for Doing this Research Project Long-term use of the immunomodulating DMARD therapies may lead to overtreatment, with elevated risks of adverse events and unnecessary costs, however there is currently no clear guidance for when, how to, and who can withdraw therapies in RA or PsA. International consensus on the safest reduction protocols and predictors of success are severely lacking and there are no data in the Australian context where criteria for accessing biologics differs in important ways from the rest of the world. Trials to-date have primarily been conducted with the anti-TNF bDMARD agents, they have not always had a usual-care comparator arm and many have been conducted in the setting of relatively early disease and are not generalisable to all. This trial will substantially address these uncertainties and will enhance the implementation of down-titration strategies if proven to be safe and cost-effective in the Australian setting.
Recruitment of Participants and Selection Criteria Participants will be approximately 270 adults with well-controlled RA or PsA across 11 sites. Major selection criteria include that subjects:
Ethics Approval Details Northern Sydney Local Health District (NSLHD) Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) Approval Number: 2021/ETH11902 Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry Number: ACTRN12621001695897
Time Period of the Research Project Anticipated end date by Jun 2027
For Further Information Contact 02 9463 1758 or email prospect.trial@sydney.edu.au Click here for Health Professionals Brochure
Research Study Closes: 30 June 2027 Date Posted: August 2024