Griffith University and Nucleus Network have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that establishes a framework for strategic collaboration focused on advancing early‑phase clinical research, workforce development, and translational innovation based within the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct (GCHKP).
The MOU reflects a shared intent to explore opportunities which combine Griffith University’s clinical and translational research strengths with Nucleus Network’s expertise in early‑phase clinical trials, supporting the continued growth of the GCHKP, the Gold Coast’s globally recognised innovation hub for health, research and innovation.
The partnership will combine Griffith University’s well-established Clinical Trial Unit and Nucleus Network’s expertise in early phase clinical trials to explore future opportunities for expanded clinical research capability across areas such as chronic diseases, neurological conditions, infectious diseases, and emerging therapeutics.
Over time, this could help accelerate access to new treatments, strengthen local research infrastructure, create highly skilled jobs and provide the community with greater access to cutting-edge clinical trials and healthcare innovation.
A strong focus will be placed on workforce development through the joint delivery of staff training programs, student placements, internships, and clinical research workforce initiatives which support the development of future clinical research talent aligned to industry, healthcare and academic needs.
Importantly, the MOU enables early engagement and collaboration within the precinct environment, facilitating dialogue around how academic and commercial clinical research, research infrastructure, and training capability can benefit from industry partnerships and how this involvement can be effectively integrated over time.
The precinct‑based model recognises the value of physical proximity in driving collaboration, accelerating research translation, and fostering meaningful engagement across academia, industry, and healthcare.
Pro Vice Chancellor Griffith Health, Professor Analise O’Donovan, said the collaboration aligns with the University’s commitment to research translation and industry engagement.
“Griffith University has a strong focus on translational research, clinical trials, and workforce education and development,” she said.
“This MOU provides a framework to explore collaboration with Nucleus Network in early phase clinical research, support clinical research pathways for students, strengthen academic research capability, and contribute to the broader health and innovation ecosystem on the Gold Coast.”
Chief Executive Officer of Nucleus Network, Teena Pisarev, said the MOU provides a structured but flexible platform to explore future opportunities in the GCHKP.
“This MOU reflects a shared ambition to explore how early‑phase clinical research, academic capability, and workforce development can be brought together within a connected health precinct,” she said.
“It allows us to assess opportunities such as a Phase I presence, access to a diverse growing population, and training pathways for future clinical research professionals, and possible collaboration in medical growth areas while maintaining flexibility as the precinct and collaboration evolve.”
Director of the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct, Craig Rowsell, said: “This partnership reflects what the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct was designed to do, to bring together industry, research and healthcare to strengthen clinical research capability, drive innovation, and workforce development and future growth on the Gold Coast.”
The MOU is an enabling step, designed to support collaboration, capability enhancement, knowledge sharing, and strategic alignment, as well as engagement with other precinct stakeholders as the GCHKP continues to grow.
