Victorian Government provides $4 million to support world leading Living Evidence Collaboration based at Monash University

The Australian Living Evidence Consortium has welcomed the commencement of funding support from the Victorian Government to help transform the way new research evidence is used to improve health outcomes for millions of Australians.

Consortium Chair and CEO of the Stroke Foundation, Sharon McGowan, thanked the Victorian Government and Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy, Hon Jaala Pulford, saying “This project is a world leading initiative developing living guidelines in healthcare to address many of Australia’s biggest health challenges including stroke, diabetes, kidney disease, arthritis, heart disease, cancer and COVID-19.”

“This is a continual process in which new research evidence from around the world is found, synthesised and incorporated into Australian clinical recommendations and guidelines in near real time. This compares with traditional approaches where it takes on average around 5 years to translate new research evidence into healthcare practice and policy.”

Minister Pulford said “we are delighted to support the next phase of development for the Australian Living Evidence Consortium through $4 million in funding, so the Consortium can work on major breakthroughs and change the lives of Victorians.

 

“Seeing the world’s first living guidelines for stroke and COVID-19 delivered from right here in Victoria shows just how significant this work is. With analysis showing around 320 Australians were saved from death or severe disability through the project thus far, we’re proud of the Victorian researchers leading the way and establishing guidelines that make a real difference in clinical care.”

 

One example of the live saving benefits of living evidence is patients is the extended time window to treat stroke patients.  One such patient suffered a stroke late last year.  Fortunately, the new Living Guidelines for Stroke Clinical Care based on the latest research evidence had extended the time window for life saving treatment (administering of clot-busting drugs) from 4.5 to 9 hours after the start of a stroke. So he was rushed to hospital and was treated after his stroke. He survived and is making a steady recovery. 

The new Victorian Government funding will add to the existing funding support for the Consortium from the Ian Potter Foundation, Gandel Foundation, Lord Mayors’ Charitable Foundation, and WA Health.

Ms McGowan said “We greatly appreciate the support of our philanthropic partners and now from two State Governments. We are also seeking Australian Government support for Living Evidence phase 2 and working with other States and Territories. This is a very significant investment for Australia’s health system for the coming decades to ensure every Australian can receive healthcare based on the best available evidence.”

Another example of the Consortiums achievement is the National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce which has created ‘living’ guidelines, updated with new research in near real-time in order to give reliable, up-to-the minute advice to clinicians and hospitals providing frontline care in this unprecedented global health crisis.

In the next phase of development, the Consortium will:

  • establish Centre of Excellence in Living Evidence based at Cochrane Australia/Monash University.

  • Build a Living Evidence digital technologies platform to further develop, enhance and integrate technical systems and digital solutions, reducing unit costs and time.

  • Further develop and maintain living guidelines (to NHMRC standards) for Stroke, Diabetes and other health conditions – some of Australia’s most high-burden diseases.

  • optimise the dissemination and utility of evidence-based guidance and partner with Australia’s leaders in knowledge translation to drive practice and policy change.

Ms McGowan noted that the Australian Living Evidence Consortium is working with international health agencies which are moving quickly to leverage the Living Evidence model for efficiency, impact and influence. The World Health Organisation is adopting Living Evidence as their main platform for global guidance; Living guidelines is one of four new strategic pillars for the UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence; and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is adopting the Living Evidence model as part of a reform agenda.

The Members of the Australian Living Evidence Consortium are:

  • Cochrane Australia

  • Arthritis Australia

  • Australian Diabetes Educators Association

  • Australian Diabetes Society

  • Australasian Paediatric Endocrine Group

  • Diabetes Australia

  • Australian and New Zealand Society of Nephrology

  • Australia and New Zealand Musculoskeletal Clinical Trials Network

  • Heart Foundation

  • Kidney Health Australia

  • CARI Guidelines

  • Cancer Council Australia

  • National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce

  • Stroke Foundation

Simon Murray