News and Insights
Welcome to Bellberry’s blog. Here we publish commentary, updates, feature posts and thought leadership on research ethics, regulation, participant experience and system change. Discover what’s happening across the research and ethics landscape in Australia and beyond.
2026 – 27 Meeting Submission Dates
We hold weekly HREC meetings every Wednesday up until the Christmas period. Our end of year submission and meeting dates differ slightly depending on when the Christmas public holidays fall. Our meeting and submission dates for 2026/27 are as follows:
Read More
Podcast Episode 14: Becoming InFORMed
Before taking part in a medical or health study, participants need to give their informed consent in a Participant Information and Consent Form (PICF). The purpose of the PICF is to provide information about what the study involves so potential participants can decide if it is right for them. Over the years PICFs have become […]
Read More
The Bell Q3 2026
The Bell contains a roundup of the activities Bellberry has been involved with in the last few months, including the NAMs (New Approach Methodologies) HREC review checklist, international conferences, our official new office opening, our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), new Board Member and more! If you have any feedback on our newsletter or any suggestions […]
Read More
Impact Report 2025
We’re proud to share Bellberry’s 2025 Impact Report – our first report bringing together key insights, data and achievements from the past year. Our stories from 2025 highlight how we continue to support ethical research and promote best practice across the sector, while giving back to the medical research community. This report reflects the collective […]
Read More
2026 Podcast Season: More About NAMs
When a potential new medicine is tested on humans for the first time it is a milestone. It is thoroughly tested for safety before reaching this stage. Often, it’s tested on animals, but increasingly New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) are being used (previously known as Non-Animal Models). NAMs are non-animal or reduced-animal scientific methods used to […]
Read More
Bellberry Newsletter – Summer 2025
Welcome to our newsletter for summer 2025. The Bell contains a roundup of the activities Bellberry has been involved with in the last few months, including awarding our Bellberry-Viertel Senior Medical Researcher, CT:IQ activities, Thought Leadership series update, our office relocation and more. If you have any feedback on our newsletter or any suggestions on […]
Read More
2025/26 Bellberry-Viertel Fellow Announced
Last month at the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences Gala Dinner in Canberra our new Bellberry-Viertel Fellow was announced! Congratulations to Associate Professor ZongYuan å®—å…ƒ Ge 戈 of Monash University who is a medical AI specialist. ZongYuan å®—å…ƒ Ge 戈 will use the five-year Fellowship to develop Australia’s first AI Unified Phenotype Foundation […]
Read More
National Statement Updates 2025
The National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research is the principal reference for research involving humans in Australia and is the guiding document for Human Research Ethics Committees. The National Statement is released by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and is periodically updated to stay relevant to evolving research practices, ethical […]
Read More
Operations Update 28
In the September issue of our Operations Update please find articles on:
Read More
Bellberry User Satisfaction Survey
As Australia’s largest provider of Human Research Ethics Committee services, Bellberry places great value on understanding the experience our users have of our services. Every two years we invite our users to share their feedback through our User Satisfaction Survey. It’s part of our goal to continuously improve what we do. Your feedback helps us […]
Read More
International Research Administrators Day
Today, September 25, we celebrate International Research Administrators Day! This globally recognised day honours the contribution of Research Administrators in supporting and advancing research. Bellberry marked the occasion with a morning tea, a chance to come together and applaud the role our Operations team plays in our organisation’s contribution and impact. Their expertise and dedication […]
Read More
NAMs workshop summary report released
We are pleased to release the summary report from the Bellberry & ASCEPT New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) Introductory Workshop, held in Melbourne, 30 Nov 2024. The report captures insights from regulators, ethicists, researchers, and industry leaders on how Australia can support the responsible use of NAMs to reduce reliance on animal models, improve translational outcomes, […]
Read More
Clinical Trial Activity Report (CTAR) 2024
Report highlights international confidence in Australian clinical trials Global investment in Australian clinical trials is strong, with two thirds of Australian clinical trials, reviewed by Bellberry, funded by international companies according to its 2024 Clinical Trials Activity Report (CTAR). Bellberry is Australia’s largest ethics and scientific reviewer of research involving humans reviewing approximately 40% of […]
Read More
Podcast Episode 12: From Lab to Life
Worldwide there is growing focus on using NAMs (Non-Animal Models also known as Novel Approach Methods) in the development of therapeutics. In other words, removing animals from pre-clinical testing. In this episode of From Lab to Life, we take you to a symposium hosted by Bellberry and ASCEPT (Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists […]
Read More
Participant Engagement at Scientific Meetings
Bellberry is delighted to share details of our grant program to support participant engagement at scientific meetings. Conference organisers can apply to Bellberry for funding to create and/or enhance participant-centric programs to enable the participant voice to be represented and heard at their meetings. The program will make a real difference with the ultimate aim […]
Read More
Human Research Ethics Committees
Discover how Bellberry's committees operate and maintain the highest ethical standards in research.
Learn More
Monitoring and Quality
Learn about Bellberry's continuous improvement and oversight processes that ensure accountability.
Learn More
Grant Activities
See how Bellberry reinvests in research education and participant-focused initiatives.
Learn More