The GV Health HREC reviews research proposals that involve human participants to ensure they meet ethical standards and guidelines, and is actively recruiting new members.
The committee is important to the Goulburn Valley region because it enables the community to participate in research that otherwise would be out of reach.
HREC secretary and GV Health director of research Associate Professor Md Rafiqul Islam said the committee protected clinical trial participants within the community from privacy and confidentiality breaches and informed them of the risks and benefits of treatment and non-treatment.
And for Mr Elgar, this has been his mission for the past 20 years.
“I believe people should give back to community wherever they can,” he said.
“I get to contribute to something that’s good for the community, but I also get to learn because I don’t need to have the technical experience to be involved in the committee,” he said.
Assoc Prof lslam said Mr Elgar’s contribution was important because he did not have a medical background or affiliation to the hospital, which meant the committee continued to be well versed in specialities.
“Brett is an amazing member of the HREC, he has so much attention to detail … he always takes care of the community with the perspective of protecting [them],” he said.
Assoc Prof lslam said the HREC aimed to provide clinical trial and research information in a manner that anyone could understand, so that everybody had access to the best treatment possible.
“It is important that the HREC know whether the research being conducted is per protocol, and if the research is of benefit to the greater interest of medical science, as well as safeguarding the participants and patients,” he said.
The committee is currently seeking to appoint people from the Goulburn Valley community who don’t have prior medical training and who are not involved in medical or scientific work; a person who performs a pastoral care role in the community, such as a First Nations Elder or a minister of religion; and a lawyer.
To apply for committee membership, contact Dr Md Rafiqul Islam by February 28 at Mdrafiqul.Islam@gvhealth.org.au or on (03) 5831 0035 or research.ethics@gvhealth.org.au
