Make your next chapter count for years to come

Have you ever opened a medicine box and read the leaflet inside?
Take with food. Avoid alcohol. May cause drowsiness.
That information did not appear out of nowhere. It exists because people volunteered to help researchers understand how a medicine actually works in the body.

For many Australians over 65, retirement brings more freedom to explore new interests, stay active, and find new ways to contribute. For some, that includes taking part in medical research. Participation can offer something many people look for at this stage of life – a sense of purpose, a way to stay involved, and the knowledge that what you do today could help the grandchildren you love, and people around the world you will never meet. 

Clinical research depends on volunteers of all ages. But people over 65 are stepping forward in far smaller numbers than researchers need, and that shortage has real consequences for everyone. 

Why volunteers over 65 are urgently needed 

People over 65 are among the most frequent users of medicines and healthcare services in Australia, yet this age group remains significantly underrepresented in clinical trials. 

That's a problem, and you could help solve it. 

When older adults are not included in research, treatments can be developed without fully accounting for the people who rely on them most. Researchers miss critical information about how medicines behave in an ageing body, how they interact with other medications, and how treatments perform in mature immune systems. The result is a gap between what science knows and what patients experience. 

Including people aged 65 and over helps close that gap. It leads to better data, safer medicines, and treatments that reflect the reality of how Australians live and age. 

A contribution that crosses borders 

Medical research does not stop at the Australian coastline. When someone takes part in a study here, the results may help guide how a medicine is approved in the United States, prescribed in the United Kingdom, or developed for communities across Asia. 

Many of the medicines people rely on today exist because someone chose to raise their hand. That decision can ripple across decades and across borders in ways most of us never see. 

Could this be for you? 

Nucleus Network is the largest early-phase clinical trials organisation in Australia and works with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies developing new medicines. The organisation is currently recruiting volunteers aged 65 to 80 for studies in Melbourne and Brisbane. People in general good health may be eligible to take part, including those who currently take regular medications. 

And here is something many people are surprised to learn. Participants are reimbursed for their time and commitment to the study. This recognises the time and commitment people give to take part. For those on a fixed income or pension, reimbursement can make a real practical difference, alongside the knowledge that they have helped move medical research forward. 

If you're curious about what taking part might involve, it can start with a simple conversation. 

To learn more, visit:
nucleusnetwork.com
or call 1800 243 733.