TRANSFUSE Trial - Finalist for ACTA Trial of the Year
The TRANSFUSE trial, coordinated by the ANZIC-RC at Monash University, with The Alfred as a participating site, was a finalist in the Australian Clinical Trials Alliance (ACTA) Trial of the Year Award. The award was for an investigator-driven trial for which the primary results were published in 2017, that addressed a critical gap in the evidence, was of an exceptional standard in terms of scientific rigour, and were expected to translate into a significant change in policy or practice. Professor Jamie Cooper and Dr Zoe McQuilten accepted the award on behalf of the TRANSFUSE Management Committee.
The TRANSFUSE Trial was an international, multicentre, randomized, double-blind trial which investigated the age of red blood cells for transfusion and outcomes in critically ill adults. The trial demonstrated that blood transfusions using blood stored for up to the standard maximum of 42 days is just as beneficial or better for patient outcomes as using “fresher” blood stored for shorter period. (Cooper, NEJM, 2017)
The Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt announced the winners of Australia’s best clinical trials at the Clinical Trials 2018: National Tribute Awards on 16 May 2018. The ACTA hosted event celebrated the extraordinary contribution of investigator-led clinical trials to Australians’ wellbeing and marked International Clinical Trials Day.
The TRANSFUSE trial was supported by grants from the NHMRC (CIA Cooper), the Health Research Council of New Zealand, and the Irish Health Research Board, and by funding from the Australian Red Cross Blood Service.
Cooper DJ, McQuilten ZK, Nichol A, Ady B, Aubron C, Bailey M, Bellomo R, Gantner D, Irving DO, Kaukonen KM, McArthur C, Murray L, Pettila V, French C. Age of Red Cells for Transfusion and Outcomes in Critically Ill Adults. N Engl J Med 2017;377:1858-67.