Every day, patients walk through the doors of Barwon Health’s Adrian Costa Clinical Trials Centre. Some arrive with quiet determination, others with understandable apprehension, but all come seeking one thing - hope.
For many, clinical trials allow access to new therapies and treatments that may not yet be widely available. The give patients and their families the possibility of more time, better health, and renewed optimism. This is the true legacy of research - the ability to change lives in real and tangible ways.
This week the Centre has been open for five years, marking a significant milestone in continuing research excellence into clinical care for the Geelong and Barwon South West community.
Since opening, Barwon Health’s Adrian Costa Clinical Trials Centre has become a centre of possibility in our community. Behind its doors, more than 200 clinical trials are underway across a broad range of specialties – from cardiology and psychiatry, to infectious diseases, cancer services, intensive care and beyond. Each trial carries with it the potential to improve outcomes, advance knowledge, and bring comfort and hope to patients.
This has all been made possible by the extraordinary generosity of Geelong’s Costa family. Their $2.5 million philanthropic contribution, made through the Adrian Costa Foundation, brought this Centre to life. In doing so, they honoured the memory of Adrian Costa, a man deeply committed to his community, but also created a place where hope is nurtured every single day.
Inside the Centre, a remarkable team is driving this vision forward. Under the leadership of Professor Peter Vuillermin, Director of Research, an incredible group of bright, dedicated minds work tirelessly to deliver world-class research right here in Geelong. Their compassion is matched only by their expertise, and every patient who enters the Centre is met with care, professionalism, and a commitment to making tomorrow’s medicine available today.
Reflecting on this anniversary reminds us all why research matters. Investment in research is crucial, it leads to better health outcomes, develops new treatments and preventive measures, and improves the efficiency and quality of healthcare systems.
Barwon Health’s Adrian Costa Clinical Trials Centre shows just how powerful it can be when generosity, knowledge and community come together with a shared purpose. We are deeply grateful to the Costa family for making this vision a reality, and to everyone who continues to champion medical research in our region.
By Zoe Waters,
Executive Director, Barwon Health Foundation
