About Us
The New Zealand Association of Clinical Research (NZACRes) is a professional association for clinical researchers. It was formed to foster and promote clinical research in New Zealand.
NZACRes is a non-profit scientific educational organisation run by volunteer officers selected from its membership.
Our Goals
The objective of NZACRes shall be to promote medical research in New Zealand to improve public health. In particular, NZACRes will
- Foster clinical research in New Zealand;
- Facilitate the exchange of information amongst members interested in clinical research;
- Provide and foster education and training in clinical research;
- Facilitate communication amongst New Zealand clinical researchers and with other national and international clinical research organisations; and
- Carry out other activities consistent with these charitable purposes.
Our Members
NZACRes membership is open to all those who have an interest in clinical research.
Join NZACRes
Members Include
- Investigators, Study Coordinators, Physicians, Clinical Research Nurses, University and Hospital based research personnel
- Clinical Research Managers, Clinical Research Associates, Regulatory Specialists and personnel from research institutes
- Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology and Medical Device research personnel
- Pharmacists and Laboratory personnel
- Health Economists, Biostatisticians and Data Managers
- Medical Writers and Industry Consultants
Meghan McIlwain is the President of the New Zealand Association of Clinical Research and a Clinical Research Manager at MSD. Originally a pharmacist, she completed her PhD in Pharmacy in 2014; her doctoral studies focused on neuroimaging biomarkers of treatment resistant schizophrenia. Meghan has published research articles on topics ranging from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder to drug-drug interactions. After a post-doc in California, she returned to New Zealand where she now works full-time in pharma industry and as an occasional guest lecturer at the School of Pharmacy, University of Auckland.
Meghan Mcllwain
Julie has over 20 years of experience in vaccine development and clinical trials across a variety of roles within the clinical research industry. She is currently working as a quality manager and sits on the Central Health & Disability Ethics Committee. She has previously established a GMP facility and spent 7 years within the European pharmaceutical industry working within clinical trial project management, strategic development and relationship management positions.
Julie Jones
Ruth Lucas is a clinical research professional with almost 20 years of experience working within the clinical trials industry. Starting out in the UK Ruth gained experience conduct clinical trials across all phases from working in a phase I unit to multi-centre phase IV studies. Ruth moved to New Zealand in 2006, working for both CRO and Pharmaceutical companies. During this time Ruth was also involved with training and mentoring of research professionals and enjoyed coaching and motivating other professionals to participate in high quality research. Ruth then continued to work as an independent contractor on a number of differing projects from Investigator-Led studies to large industry sponsored trials, with a focus on quality improvement within NZ.
In March 2019 Ruth took up the post as Research Manager for Cancer & Blood Research at Auckland District Health Board, broadening her industry experience into the DHB.
In March 2019 Ruth took up the post as Research Manager for Cancer & Blood Research at Auckland District Health Board, broadening her industry experience into the DHB.
Ruth Lucas
Charlie has a strong scientific background having studied Applied Biology (Biomedical Science) with postgraduate qualifications in Pharmacoeconomics, and a career in pharmaceutical development and market access. Charlies has 20 years of experience in the Clinical Research Industry. He is the Health Research Manager at the Bay of Plenty Clinical Trials Unit based at Tauranga Hospital and has expertise in protocol design and research methodology, as well as managing the conduct of clinical trials according to local and international regulations and guidelines. Charlie works closely with clinicians and mangers across the BOPDHB to develop health research projects and is currently the Chair of the DHB Research Office Mangers Alliance. He is a Co-Investigator on a Health Research Council Funded Project, “Enhancing New Zealand’s Clinical Trials,” a project designed to review New Zealand’s current trials infrastructure and report on International models to inform the future for Clinical Trial activity in New Zealand, and is a Co-Investigator on grant funded activities local to BOPDHB,
Charlie Stratton
Marina Dzhelali works as a Research Office Manager and is in charge of the Hutt Valley DHB and Capital & Coast DHB Research Offices. Born in Russia, raised in Ukraine and graduated in the USA, Marina has worked professionally in the USA and NZ for the past 20 years. Marina has acquired research experience in many clinical areas and has been NZACREs member since 2004 in the variety of roles.
Living in the Hutt Valley allows her to enjoy the combination of suburban and a semirural life style with her husband, kids and animals.
Marina Dzhelali
Currently Deb is the Research & Innovation Manager at Cancer & Blood Research at Te Pūriri o Te Ora Regional Cancer and Blood Service. The role sits as part of the senior management team, and leads a group of almost fifty staff engaged in the start-up and delivery of the clinical research programme. The current focus is on equity and better access to clinical trials through the development of a decentralised clinical trial model. A continued priority is the close working with Industry as a research delivery site of excellence for early and late phase trials through Auckland Cancer Trials Centre.
Deb Matich
Currently Chris is Senior Manager, Global Site Activation at IQVIA RDS Pty
Limited. Chris has worked in various roles in the clinical trial industry since 2007, initially as Operations Manager for a Phase 1-3 unit in Christchurch (including healthy volunteer and first in human trials). In 2016 he moved to the CRO world, commencing at IQVIA as a start-up specialist, and since 2019 has managed a team of start-up specialists across Australia and New Zealand. He is a registered nurse with clinical experience in spinal injuries and haematology and has also held a variety of nursing and service leadership roles
Limited. Chris has worked in various roles in the clinical trial industry since 2007, initially as Operations Manager for a Phase 1-3 unit in Christchurch (including healthy volunteer and first in human trials). In 2016 he moved to the CRO world, commencing at IQVIA as a start-up specialist, and since 2019 has managed a team of start-up specialists across Australia and New Zealand. He is a registered nurse with clinical experience in spinal injuries and haematology and has also held a variety of nursing and service leadership roles
Chris Taylor
I am a Deputy Director of the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand and research physician with a background in biomedical science, clinical medicine and a PhD in clinical research. In addition to management and business development responsibilities, I undertake Principal Investigator and study physician roles across both sponsored and investigator led research programmes and have interests in clinical informatics, biotech, research network and methodology. Through my PhD I established the NZ Pharmacy Research Network which now offers the capacity to conduct randomised trials embedded in community pharmacy. This programme aims to overcome the methodological and cost barriers to studying over the counter medicines, complementary therapies and devices, through which I have developed an interest in the regulatory and commercialisation aspects of clinical research. I enjoy networking with academia, industry and government and as an Adjunct Professor at Victoria University of Wellington and Research Fellow at Western Sydney University am actively involved in under- and post-graduate teaching and supervision