Better health and better lives for all Tasmanians
This is the vision for the Menzies Institute for Medical Research at the University of Tasmania, one of Australia’s leading health and medical research institutes. Without your support we can not carry out our ground-breaking research — right here in Tasmania.
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Join a study
Together we can advance health and medical research by participating in our studies and trials.
Below is a list of ongoing studies and trials actively seeking participants. Register now!
Want to get active, reduce pollution or try something new? Being physically active is one of the best ways to stay well. Studies have shown that simply walking to and from bus stops can keep you more physically active.
Being physically active is one of the best ways to stay physically active.
Jump on board our Get BusActive study and receive up to $100 for taking part!
Phase 2 of the Observed Mindfulness Measure (OMM) study is now recruiting! We need 200 pairs of people who know each other to participate. It's simple to do, just find your pair & do our online surveys.
- Vaping is one of the key health issues facing young people today
- Researchers from the University of Tasmania School of Medicine and the Menzies Institute for Medical Research are working in collaboration with the Department of Health and QUIT Tasmania to design ways to support Tasmanian kids to remove vaping from their lives.
- The research is using an exciting approach that involves working directly with young people to design and test the solutions.
- They are looking for Tasmanians aged 12 to 18 years to be a part of the research
- The research involves a survey and focus group discussions
- Children aged 15 to 18 years can complete the survey and sign up for the focus groups themselves.
- Children aged 12 to 14 years need mum, dad or a carer’s permission to take part.
PC4PC-TAS offers genetic testing (in a research setting) to men diagnosed with high-grade prostate cancer. High-grade is defined as a Gleason score of 8 or an ISUP grade of 4 at original diagnosis.
Specifically, this study involves obtaining genetic information for each participant by sequencing their DNA to identify genetic changes that contributed to the development of their cancer, which in some cases may inform treatment decisions.
All participants will be informed if we have or have not identified a genetic change that is currently relevant to their health. If you have any questions and/or would like to discuss whether you are eligible, please reach out.
The GRIPF study aims to better understand the genetic factors contributing to the development of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a rare and devastating lung disease.
This study aims to recruit individuals with a strong family history of IPF, in addition to their immediate family members (both with and without IPF). The overarching aim of this study is to identify and characterise genetic changes that cause IPF. Unfortunately, not all individuals will receive a genetic result given that we still know very little about what causes IPF. Overall, we hope that this study will provide more individuals with a genetic reason for their disease and ultimately, facilitate personalised treatment.
If you have any questions and/or would like to discuss whether you are eligible, please reach out.
Plantar heel pain (pain under the heel) is a common foot condition associated with pain and restricted activity that can be frustrating to treat.
We are conducting a trial at Menzies to investigate the effectiveness of a bone targeting treatment to see if we can improve outcomes in people with plantar heel pain.
If you have had pain under the heel for at least 3 months, are willing and able to have an MRI and can attend 3 treatment sessions over 3 consecutive weeks in person in Hobart, we would love to hear from you.
Please contact the study lead Dr Jason Rogers on +61 3 6220 8525 or by email:
Email Dr Jason Rogers about participating in the BALSA Study
The Menzies Institute for Medical Research is currently recruiting participants for participation in the ‘Exercise Physiology in the IdentifiCation of high Blood Pressure (EPIC BP) study.’
The EPIC-BP study seeks to understand how the measurement of blood pressure during exercise can be used to predict underlying high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease risk.
By participating in this study, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of your blood pressure control and aerobic fitness level.
Participation in the EPIC-BP study involves three appointments at the Menzies Clinic over a 3–4-week period. The duration of the appointments will vary between 30 and 90 minutes, during which time you will complete a series of exercise tests and blood pressure measurements. You will also be sent home from each visit with a monitor that will measure your blood pressure every 30 minutes for 24 hours.
We are looking for people who are:
- Aged 30 years or older
- Not pregnant
- Do not have a musculoskeletal injury/any other condition that would prevent the completion of exercise.
If you are interested in participating, please fill out a screening and eligibility questionnaire at the link below and the team will be in touch regarding your participation.
Express an interest in the EPIC Study
This study has been approved by the University of Tasmania Human Research Ethics Committee (H0027745)
If you have any questions before completing the eligibility survey, please contact the research team via email: EPIC.BP@utas.edu.au.
AMSLS collects real-life data from people living with MS.
It is a survey-based research study that has been running since 2002 and now has about 2500 people completing research surveys each year.
The data collected is used by policymakers and MS medical and support services to create positive change and improve the lives of people with MS.
But for the data to have the most impact, the AMSLS needs as many participants as possible.
Become an AMSLS Study participant
The AMSLS is one of MS Australia’s collaborative research platforms; a partnership between MS Australia and the Menzies Institute for Medical Research.
Can you help our researchers find out if low-intensity magnetic brain stimulation (MBS) is an effective treatment for MS? We are looking for 108 people with MS for the TAURUS.2 trial which has now commenced at six sites across Australia.
We will measure the effects of magnetic brain stimulation (MBS for short) on multiple sclerosis (MS). MBS can non-invasively and painlessly activate nerve cells in the human brain and can be used to change nerve cell activity.
MBS is currently used to treat depression but has only been used for MS in the research setting.
We need your help to investigate the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) strain that may play a crucial role in developing multiple sclerosis (MS). This Australia-wide study also aims to identify specific markers in the blood associated with onset and progression of MS.
To participate in this study we invite
People WITH MS who:
- Are 18 years and above
- Have been diagnosed with MS by a neurologist
AND
People who DO NOT have MS who:
- Are 18 years and above and have NOT been diagnosed with MS, and
- Have NOT been diagnosed with any similar neurological condition
The Menzies Institute for Medical Research is conducting a study on detection and management of cardiac complications of cancer treatment.
If you have had chemotherapy for cancer, there is a possibility that you may have had some damage to your heart. You may qualify for an important study of cardiac scans and exercise testing to see if any damage has occurred. If there is evidence of heart damage, you may receive exercise training and medications that could help the heart recover.
To be eligible to participate, you must be:
- Aged 40-70 years
- History of cancer more than 5 years ago
- Not taking a cholesterol lowering tablet
For further information about this study, please email redeem.menzies@utas.edu.au or phone Kerrie Larsen, Research Assistant on +61 3 6226 4648.
The REDEEM-HF study at the Menzies Institute for Medical Research aims to understand whether chemotherapy for the treatment of cancer causes damage to the heart.
If you have had chemotherapy for cancer you may qualify for this important study which includes cardiac scans and exercise testing to see if any damage has occurred to your heart. If there is evidence of heart damage, you will receive a review with a cardiologist (heart specialist) and you could receive exercise training (e.g. cardiac rehab) and medications to help the heart recover.
Who can Participate?
To be eligible to participate you must be:
- over 65 years of age
- history of cancer more than 10 years ago.
Please contact our team at redeem.menzies@utas.edu.au or phone + 61 3 6226 4235.
The activity has a focus on primary prevention of cardiovascular disease and the clinical utility of coronary artery calcium scoring. You are presented with a case study of an Australian man who presents for cardiovascular risk management in primary practice. This activity explores actions you may take to reduce cardiovascular risk, the clinical utility of CAC scoring to guide primary prevention strategies and the perceptions of CV risk in the community. On completion of the course, you are awarded with 2CPD points.
Get involved - Consumer and Community Involvement
Consumer and Community Involvement is about recognising the importance of lived experience in research.
Get involved in research as a person with lived experience of a health condition, either personally or as a carer, family member, or friend, to help shape decisions today.
Some examples of involvement are:
- Help plan research studies and clinical trials.
- Review and help with writing funding applications or other research papers.
- Join consumer advisory groups or lab meetings.
- Present research findings at conferences together.
- Work together on how to use research results in real-world settings like policy, education, and practice.
- Assess how the research was carried out with other researchers.
If you want to get involved with health research that helps people in Tasmania, please sign up below. By signing up, you will receive updates on how you can be involved.
If you have any questions, please contact CCI@Menzies.utas.edu.au or call +61 3 6220 7873.
Volunteer with us
Research grants don't always cover all the costs of a project, so we rely on volunteers to help out. Volunteers offer their time and skills to support our teams in various ways. Their help allows us to do work that we couldn't otherwise afford to do.
Thank you for your interest. To find out about volunteering opportunities as they arise: