Professor Richard Stubbs on the Evolution of Private Clinical Research

Richard, your career spans clinical practice, research and leadership. How did your interest in clinical research first take shape?

Research has always been integral to how I’ve thought about medicine. Alongside my clinical training and surgical career, I was consistently drawn to the question of how we improve outcomes at a population level, not just for the patient in front of us.

That perspective naturally led me towards clinical research. It allows you to ask structured questions, generate evidence, and translate that knowledge into better care. When I became involved with P3 Research in the early 2000s, what appealed to me was the quality of the work and the rigour with which research was being undertaken, even within a relatively small private setting.

P3 Research later became one of Momentum’s founding companies. What were the principles that guided its development?

From the outset, the focus was on credibility and consistency. That meant delivering what we said we would deliver, maintaining high clinical and ethical standards, and building trust with sponsors, CROs and, critically, with participants.

As the organisation matured, it was important to broaden our therapeutic capability while retaining that same discipline. Expanding beyond respiratory research into other areas, particularly those managed in primary care, allowed us to develop a more balanced and resilient research portfolio.

The expansion from two sites to seven between 2010 and 2023 was a consequence of strong teams, durable relationships, and a shared understanding of what good research looks like.

You’ve been a consistent advocate for private, community-based research sites. Why do you believe that model works so well?

Private sites, when well governed and properly resourced, offer a level of responsiveness and participant engagement that is difficult to replicate elsewhere. They sit close to the communities they serve and are often ideally placed to deliver trials in therapeutic areas managed outside tertiary hospitals.

Over time, sponsors and CROs increasingly recognised that these sites could deliver high-quality data, recruit reliably, and operate efficiently. In New Zealand, that model became well established, and it’s encouraging to see similar momentum developing in Australia as the sector matures.

Your leadership extended beyond your own organisation, including your time as President of NZACRes. What was important to you in that role?

Industry bodies play an important role in shaping perception and confidence. During my time as President of NZACRes, the focus was on strengthening engagement, professionalising how we presented ourselves, and ensuring that New Zealand’s clinical research sector was visible and credible to Australian and global sponsors.

It was a collaborative effort, and I was fortunate to work with a committed executive committee.

Momentum Clinical Research and PCRN now offer integrated Phase 1–4 capability. How do you view that evolution?

Integrated models make sense scientifically, operationally, and commercially. They allow studies to progress logically from early-phase research through to later-stage trials within a connected network, which benefits sponsors and participants alike.

This was a model I had been interested in for some time. The combination of P3 Research into Momentum Clinical Research followed by the merger with PCRN has brought together complementary strengths and created a more integrated and capable model for delivering clinical research across Australia and New Zealand.

You became Chief Medical Officer following the formation of Momentum. What did that role allow you to focus on?

The CMO role is fundamentally about maintaining clinical standards, supporting investigators, and ensuring that governance keeps pace with growth. It’s also about continuity: preserving what works well while adapting to new scale and complexity.

An important part of that is how technology is used to support quality and oversight. At P3, we were early adopters of systems such as RealTime CTMS and eSource that

strengthened data integrity, transparency and operational consistency. Staying current with evolving technology is essential in clinical research when it is implemented thoughtfully and aligned to how sites actually work.

That same mindset has continued. Working alongside an experienced executive team at Momentum made it possible to focus on clinical leadership rather than operational detail, which I found both productive and rewarding.

When you reflect on your career, what do you value most?

Clinical research is a collective endeavour. It depends on participants who place their trust in the process, staff who bring expertise and care to their work, and sponsors who rely on integrity and consistency. I’ve been fortunate to work alongside highly capable colleagues over many years, and that is what I value most when I look back.

And outside of professional life, where do you find balance?

Time with family and in my workshop. I am a wood worker and tinkerer. I have a wonderful retreat at Lake Tekapo, started almost 100 years ago by my grandfather, whose vision was to create an English park. It is just that, in one of the most beautiful regions of NZ. Tekapo is a small alpine village on the shores of New Zealand’s highest lake in the South Island. It’s a place that offers genuine perspective and quiet with a landscape that encourages reflection and a step back from the pace of professional life.

Finally, how do you see the future for Momentum Clinical Research and PCRN?

The organisation has strong leadership, capable teams, and a model that aligns well with where clinical research is heading. I’m confident it will continue to grow, adapt and contribute meaningfully to the clinical research landscape across the region and beyond.

Momentum Clinical Research and PCRN sincerely thank Professor Richard Stubbs for his leadership, generosity and lasting contribution to our organisation and to clinical research more broadly. We have been fortunate to work with Richard and to learn from his experience, perspective and care for people. We wish him every success, fulfilment and enjoyment in the next chapter ahead.