Tong Clinical Trials Group wins Award for Excellence in Enabling Research

The Tong Clinical Trials Group - Professor Steven Tong, Grace McPhee, Lauren Barina, Susan Goulding, Jieli Li, Mia Di Virgilio, Chiara Piazzese, Ethan Foo and Vi Nguyen - have received the Award for Excellence in Enabling Research as part of the 2025 University of Melbourne Excellence Awards. This prestigious award recognises transformative initiatives that build research capability or provide essential support for successful research outcomes.

The Tong Clinical Trials Group leads the Staphylococcus aureus Network Adaptive Platform (SNAP) trial. This is an international, first-of-its-kind study recruiting adults and paediatric participants. SNAP aims to improve treatment outcomes for patients with Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections by evaluating a range of interventions through an adaptive platform design. Despite the availability of antibiotic treatments there is limited evidence comparing their effectiveness with fewer than 3,000 participants enrolled in published randomised controlled trials to date.

SNAP spans sites across Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Canada, Israel, South Africa, Europe and the UK, with potential for further global expansion. By addressing critical gaps in evidence and fostering collaboration across continents, the Tong Clinical Trials Group is enabling research that will shape future care for patients worldwide.