Centre of Research Excellence in improving immunoglobulin use and clinical outcomes
OPTIMAL is a NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence bringing together patients, leading researchers, health professionals and health economists to generate the new knowledge and research capacity required to design, build and implement better systems for delivering immunoglobulin therapy.
What we do
Our Research
We are addressing national priorities to inform national and international policy and practice to ensure immunoglobulin is being used where it is the most valuable and reduce costs to the community. We work across two broad streams addressing immunoglobulin use in different clinical areas.
Translation into policy
Delivering evidence-based, personalised care, and better access for patients to therapeutics and services underpins our research. We have partnered with government, consumers, and professional societies to promote and ensure translation of our research outcomes.
Capacity building
We are developing Australia’s health and medical research workforce, bringing together our expertise and resources, and training the next generation of researchers, by mentoring young investigators and creating a research environment for them to flourish.
Who we are
We are an alliance of Australian researchers, health professionals and health economists with expertise in immunoglobulin research (haematology, nursing, neurology, infectious and inflammatory diseases). We work closely with key stakeholders (government, community groups of those with lived experience of immunoglobulin therapy, industry) to guide our research activities, including implementation and dissemination of project outcomes.
Immunoglobulin in Australia
As per National Blood Authority Annual Report 2023-24
1014
million AUD in annual product costs
26K
Ig users
59%
of total blood and blood product issues