A new consumer advisory group has been appointed to help shape the direction of research at the Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA) and Cerulea Clinical Trials.
The group will bring the voices of people living with eye conditions and their families into the heart of medical research and strategic planning.
Cerulea Clinical Trials is a specialist ophthalmic clinical trials centre based in Melbourne. It is a fully owned not-for-profit subsidiary of the Centre for Eye Research Australia, and its specialist team delivers phase 1-4 clinical trials for industry and investigator-initiated studies.
The advisory group’s chair, CERA board director Mr Simon Brewin, said the new initiative ensured that consumer insights would directly shape research priorities, development of new treatments for eye disease and the overall direction of CERA and Cerulea Clinical Trials.
“This is a turning point for CERA. Involving consumers directly in our research isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s going to make our work more impactful,’’ he said. “These are the voices that matter most, and we’re making sure they guide our research.”
The group includes independent consumers Ms Jane Cherry, Dr Colleen Lewis, Dr Ronelle Hutchinson and Mr Daniel Talko, along with advocates from organisations such as Vision Australia, CERA researchers and Cerulea Clinical Trials representatives.
The initiative is led by CERA’s consumer involvement and advocacy lead Ms Kelly Schulz.
“The strength of this group lies in the diversity of perspectives and lived experiences each member brings,’’ she said.
“This advisory group marks the starting point for CERA’s broader consumer program, laying the foundation for meaningful, long-term involvement of consumers in our research and strategy.”
The group will provide advice on various aspects of CERA and Cerulea’s work, from early research design and clinical trial experience to the roll-out of results.
CERA managing director Professor Keith Martin said involving consumers directly in research was a powerful step forward.
“Their insights will help ensure our work has real-world impact, benefiting those who need it most,’’ he said.
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