Fellowship to advance diversity in clinical trials

Dr Mukaro, from The University of Melbourne's Department of Critical Care, is one of six inaugural recipients of the fellowship, supported by a $A2 million Victorian Government initiative to improve access to clinical trials and develop future research leaders.

Her AWAKE study (African Australian communities Working to improve Awareness, Knowledge and Equity in clinical trial participation) will investigate barriers and enablers to clinical trial participation among African Australian communities and work with community members to co-design culturally appropriate solutions.

Why diversity matters

Clinical trials are essential to improving healthcare, but their findings may not adequately reflect the needs of populations who are underrepresented in research.

Despite Australia's increasing cultural diversity, participation by people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds remains disproportionately low. Barriers include language, trust, health literacy, access to interpreters and recruitment practices that may unintentionally exclude some communities.

Through focus groups and co-design workshops, AWAKE will explore community perspectives and develop practical approaches to improving awareness, engagement, recruitment and informed consent.

As a Zimbabwean-born researcher, Dr Mukaro brings clinical research expertise, lived experience and established community connections to the project. Her approach recognises the diversity of African Australian communities and is guided by the principle "Nothing about us without us."

Relevance to the CTN and ARCN

The research aligns closely with the ANZCA CTN Strategic Plan 2026–2029, particularly its priorities to strengthen meaningful community engagement, equitable participation and research workforce capability.

The findings could provide valuable insights for CTN investigators and members of the Anaesthesia Research Co-ordinators Network (ARCN), who play important roles in participant recruitment, informed consent and ongoing engagement.

By identifying practical ways to build trust, improve communication and reduce barriers to participation, AWAKE has the potential to support more inclusive clinical trial design and delivery across the network.

We congratulate Dr Mukaro on this achievement and look forward to following the progress of her research.

Find out more: University of Melbourne fellowship announcement and Victorian Government announcement.