Background
Aims of the Network
Membership
Chairperson(s) and Committee Structure
Meetings
Communication between ASTN Centres
Interface with Pharmaceutical Industry
Other Rules
The
ASTN first commenced in 1996 and includes 35 centers in
Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Hong Kong. The ASTN
has an Executive Committee, which is a sub-committee of
the Stroke Society
of Australasia. The ASTN is currently co-chaired by
Prof. Christopher Bladin (Melbourne) and Dr. Denis Crimmins
(East Gosford).
The
chief aim of the network is to ensure a coordinated strategy
for involvement of the Australasian Pacific region in International
Stroke Trials and to facilitate optimal communication and
collaboration between centers in our region.
The
ASTN was initially set up to conduct both acute stroke treatment
and secondary prevention trials in Australia, following
approaches from various pharmaceutical companies, with a
view that this will enhance the coordination of our centers
both in Australasia and in International trials.
The
concept was based on the development of the Canadian
Stroke Consortium and stroke trial networks in North
America and Europe. There are strong collaborative links
with the Canadian Stoke Sonsortium with respect to both
Pharma based studies and Investigator driven studies.
The
ASTN formally meets at each Annual
Scientific Meeting of the Stroke Society of Australasia
and has an active communication network through email and
this website.
Aims
of the Network
The
Australasian Stroke Trials Network (ASTN) is a special interest
group of the Stroke Society of Australasia, administered
by a sub-committee of the SSA. The ASTN was set up with
the aim of facilitating and coordinating stroke research
trials in Australasia, covering both industry funded and
investigator driven research. The ASTN is the coordinating
body for stroke trial centres in Australasia and allows
a professional interface between stroke trialists and the
pharmaceutical industry. A key aim of the ASTN is to facilitate
communication between centres concerning new and ongoing
trials.
The
Rules of the SSA apply to the ASTN. Members of the ASTN
are all members of the SSA. Hence separate nominating procedures
and annual subscriptions are not required.
Membership
1.
The membership of the ASTN is open to all members of the
Stroke Society of Australasia who have an interest in stroke
clinical trials, and who practice in Australasia.
2.
Centres in the ASTN would consist of those centres actively involved
in clinical stroke trials.
Chairperson(s)
and Committee Structure
1.
The SSA Committee will appoint the ASTN Chairperson(s).
2.
The Chairperson(s) will report to the Committee of the Stroke
Society of Australasia (SSA).
3.
The Chairperson(s) will serve a 3 year term of office and be eligible
to be reappointed for a further 3 years, for a maximum of 2 consecutive
terms.
4.
The ASTN Chairperson(s) will form a Committee with representatives
from each State in Australia, New Zealand and other regions with
ASTN centres.
5.
Committee members would serve a 3 year term of office and be eligible
to be reappointed for a further 3 years, for a maximum of 2 consecutive
terms.
6.
Immediate previous Chairpersons of the ASTN would be ex-officio
members of the Committee.
Meetings
1.
There should be an Annual General Meeting of the ASTN. The AGM
should be held at the time of the Stroke Society of Australasia
Annual Scientific Meeting.
2.
The ASTN Committee should meet face to face or via teleconference
at least twice a year.
Communication
between ASTN Centres
Regular
communication concerning current and proposed trials would be
facilitated using the ASTN website, newsletters, email and other
communications as appropriate. Communication should be facilitated
by the Secretariat and the designated Editor.
Interface
with Pharmaceutical Industry
Pharmaceutical
companies proposing new trials in Australasia should be
strongly encouraged to deal with centres via the ASTN Committee,
rather than initial direct communication with centres.
Other
Rules
All
other rules would be in accord with the Rules of the Stroke
Society of Australasia.
