News

Australia’s clinical trials community gathered in Sydney in August 2026 to celebrate excellence in health and medical research at the Australian Clinical Trials Alliance (ACTA) Trial of the Year Awards.

Now in its tenth year, the awards recognise outstanding investigator-led clinical trials and initiatives that improve clinical practice, influence healthcare policy and deliver better outcomes for patients. They also highlight the importance of high-quality research, consumer engagement and Australia’s growing reputation as a global leader in clinical trials.

Among the trials recognised was the ALLG BM12 CAST Trial, led by Professor David Curtis, which was named runner-up in the 2026 ACTA Trial of the Year Awards.

A Landmark Achievement in Stem Cell Transplantation

Led by the Australasian Leukaemia & Lymphoma Group (ALLG) and Monash University, the BM12 CAST trial represents one of the most significant advances in blood stem cell transplantation in recent decades. The study demonstrated that a new combination of cyclophosphamide and cyclosporin significantly reduces the risk of Graft Versus Host Disease (GVHD), a serious and potentially life-threatening complication following stem cell transplantation.

The five-year Phase III trial involved 134 patients across eight hospital sites in Australia and New Zealand. Researchers found that patients receiving the new treatment regimen were more than three times as likely to be alive, free of blood cancer and free of GVHD three years after transplant compared with those receiving standard therapy. Serious side effects were also reduced, delivering improved long-term outcomes for patients.

Prof David Curtis

“The BM12 trial showed the new treatment combination is simple, safe and more effective than current methods in preventing GVHD, which contributes to death or life-long illness in 20% of patients undergoing a blood stem cell transplant,” said Prof Curtis.

“The trial has established a new benchmark for treatment in matched related donor transplantation.”

The results gained international attention following publication in the New England Journal of Medicine and presentation at the European Hematology Association Congress.

Accelerating Access Through Investigator-Led Research

The BM12 CAST trial is notable because it addresses an area of cancer care that has historically attracted limited commercial investment. Stem cell transplantation remains a highly specialised field, and advancing research can be challenging when access to new therapies is limited.

By using medicines that are already widely available in clinical practice, the BM12 CAST findings can be rapidly translated into routine care. This reduces barriers to implementation and enables patients to benefit sooner from evidence-based improvements in treatment.

The trial demonstrates the important role investigator-led clinical research plays in answering clinically important questions and delivering improvements that might otherwise not be prioritised through traditional commercial research pathways.

The impact of the BM12 CAST trial extends beyond clinical outcomes. For patients like Stephanie, who participated in the study during her treatment for acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), the trial offered access to an approach that has since helped establish a new benchmark in stem cell transplantation.

Read Stephanie’s Story Here

Recognising Excellence and Impact

The ACTA recognition reflects not only the scientific excellence of the study but also the collaboration behind its success, involving clinicians, researchers, consumers, participating hospitals and patients across Australia and New Zealand.

ACTA Chair Professor Christopher Reid and Professor Steve Wesselingh, CEO National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) acknowledged the expertise, commitment and teamwork demonstrated by nominees and winners, noting their contribution to improving healthcare outcomes in Australia and internationally – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4d9rvBOOMRA.

For the cancer research community, BM12 CAST demonstrates how high-quality clinical trials can deliver meaningful patient benefits while generating evidence that supports better care, improved outcomes and more effective use of healthcare resources. The trial also highlights the value of consumer involvement and collaboration in delivering research with real-world impact.