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5 min read
Clinical trials are the engine driving better care, deeper understanding, and real change for people living with eating disorders. This shift towards individualised treatment brings us closer to a future where treatment is more effective, personalised, and responsive to every person’s unique needs.
To better understand the importance of clinical trials, we sat down with our Clinical Trials lead, Dr Kristen McParland and Research Stream Lead, Dr Kristi Griffiths, for a 5-minute chat about why this work matters and what makes it so impactful.
Dr Kristen McParland: Clinical trials are how we find out which treatments actually work — and what is safe. Almost every medicine, therapy, or vaccine people rely on today exists because it was first tested in a clinical trial by volunteers.
Dr Kristi Griffiths: Exactly. They provide the evidence base for healthcare. Without clinical trials, we’d have no reliable way to know which treatments are effective, or which approaches should be adopted across the healthcare system.
KM: Right now, we’re running the largest eating disorder study in Australia, which is incredibly exciting. We’re looking at the many factors that shape eating disorders, things like thought patterns, biology, and life experiences, to improve how they are understood and treated.
We’re also running two important clinical trials to test novel personalised therapies for treating eating disorders. Current, and often considered ‘gold-standard,’ therapies, often take a one-size-fits-all approach, but they may not work well for everyone. By personalising therapy to the individual, we hope to significantly improve recovery outcomes.
KG: That’s what really excites me too. We’re moving closer to truly personalised care. We’re trying to get a deep understanding of both the biology and psychology of each person, to figure out how we can tailor treatment to them, rather than expect the person to fit the treatment. Personalised medicine has been a dream in psychiatry, and is finally feeling much closer.
KM: Much closer! The two clinical trials we’re working on as part of our three Signature Studies are a great example of that.
The For Me Trial focuses on young people with early-stage anorexia nervosa. It offers a personalised care package that includes therapy, nutrition support, and skills training, all tailored to their individual needs, with input from carers and clinicians. Participants in this trial will complete assessments, attend regular sessions, and help researchers understand what works best for recovery.
The other study we’re conducting is the TailorED trial. This study looks at how best to support people with bulimia nervosa or binge eating disorder who don’t respond quickly to standard online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). While we know that this evidence-based therapy works for some, we also know that it doesn’t always work for everyone nor take into account individual differences. And we want to address this gap. Based on how they are doing after a few weeks of treatment, participants of this trial will be matched to different care options, such as extended therapy, personalised psychotherapy, or brain stimulation (TMS). The aim of this trial is to make treatment more responsive and effective for each individual.
These two trials are currently recruiting now, so if anyone would like to take part, they can visit our Signature Studies website.
KM: I think many people would be surprised by how altruistic our participants are. People often volunteer, not because they expect to directly benefit from the treatments being studied personally, but because they want to help others in the future. They understand that their involvement can improve care and outcomes for the next person facing the same condition, and that really matters to them.
KG: Without clinical trials, healthcare simply can’t move forward, and in the eating disorder space, that can result in really poor health outcomes. People deserve treatments that are matched to their specific needs. Once we improve this, the benefits extend beyond individuals living with eating disorders; they will be felt across the entire system, both socially and economically.
KM: Even beyond eating disorders, as a society, we’ve already benefited enormously from past research investments. Clinical trials rarely produce “overnight cures”, but they progressively turn once-fatal diseases into treatable, manageable, or curable conditions through stepwise evidence building. This is true for eating disorders, cancer, infectious diseases, and many other conditions. By continuing to invest in clinical trials, we can keep improving treatments, reducing the devastating impact of these conditions, improve quality of life, and deliver better outcomes for both current and future generations.
KM: It’s important to know that joining a clinical trial may or may not provide direct personal benefit, but you will be closely supported and monitored by a dedicated research team. Clinical trials often mean more time, attention, and structured follow-up than is typical in a busy healthcare system. Safety monitoring and high-quality care are our top priority throughout our studies.
One thing I find with many of our participants is the real sense of purpose and connection they feel in contributing to something meaningful; that’s important to know as well.
KG: And don’t be shy about asking questions! We deeply value our participants and their generosity when it comes to sharing their experiences to help progress treatments. In the case of eating disorders, this often can mean being vulnerable and sharing your lived experience with the goal of progressing treatments; we don’t take that for granted.
We want you to feel informed and confident every step of the way and we’re always happy to chat for as long as you need to make sure you feel comfortable.
Clinical trials bring together science, care, and lived experience to drive meaningful progress in eating disorder treatment. At InsideOut, they are a critical component to advancing knowledge, improving treatments, and ultimately transforming lives.
Interested in participating in one of our clinical trials? Visit our trials page to learn more about current opportunities.