ECRU was established in 1995 and today is known as the fastest growing - results oriented - clinical trials unit in Australia... with a difference.

It consists of three campuses - at Box Hill Hospital, Maroondah Hospital and Alfred Hospital.

Dedicated to providing the best and fastest results in clinical trial implementation, ECRU has the unique ability to draw on integrated campus resources from:

• Key medical specialists encompassing the breadth of medical disciplines
• Experienced and dedicated clinical research staff
• Well-renowned university academics
• Large NATA accredited pathology department equipped to carry out all blood and body fluid testing
• Experienced team of senior radiologists with access to sophisticated imaging modalities such as CT and MRI scanning
• Established on-site pharmacists with experience in clinical trials
• Busy, state-of-the-art Emergency Departments (Box Hill with 35,000 patients on average per year; Maroondah with 29,000)
• Inpatients and ambulatory patients drawn from a catchment area covering 1.2 million people
• Strong links with Divisions of General Practice and individual GPs covering the catchment area

ECRU at any one time is involved in more than 150 active clinical trials, with more than 1500 patients. More than 40 Clinical Trial Coordinators (nurses, dieticians, scientists) work with eight investigating groups: haematology, oncology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, hepatology, neurology, respiratory medicine, and nephrology.

ECRU Biotech, under the direction of Dr Anthony Dear, is the development arm of ECRU and conducts a number of translational research projects in multiple disciplines.

For more information, please refer to the Eastern Health Medical School site.