ANZCTR

New policy from Government funders of clinical trials

In February 2026, the NHMRC and the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing released a joint Open Science Policy outlining the expectation that clinical trial results are shared publicly in a timely way. It states:

“NHMRC and Medical Research Future Fund expect the timely sharing of results from clinical trials, ideally within 12 months from primary study completion….in a clinical registry such as ANZCTR.”¹

The policy explains that making clinical trial results publicly accessible helps ensure that public investment in health and medical research delivers the greatest possible benefit to society. This approach aligns with the New Zealand Health Research Council’s (NZ HRC) Clinical Trials Policy² and World Health Organization recommendations^3,4. The ANZCTR has previously outlined the benefits of making trial results, protocols and related documents publicly available⁵.

What does this mean for trial investigators?

The ANZCTR can support trial investigators to comply with the policy:

✔ at no cost
✔ without compromising future journal publications
✔ regardless of whether results are published or unpublished, and
✔ regardless of the format of the results write-up

Options for trial investigators are:

When to use this

Step 1: Options for trial investigators

Step 2: Actions on the ANZCTR

Impact on journal publication

Compliance

Upload summary results to a clinical trials registry

Upload summary results table using the ANZCTR template to the registry including:

- Participant flow

- Baseline characteristics

- Key outcomes & adverse events

✔ Accepted by ICMJE‑aligned journals and has been an ICMJE agreed policy since 2018⁶

Uploading summary results to the ANZCTR is not considered prior publication by journals. This approach is now standard practice for most journals

Draft yet unpublished manuscript

Upload manuscript to a reputable preprint server, e.g. medRxiv

Update the registry record with:

- DOI(s) or links to pre-
prints

✔ Usually accepted by journals though trial investigators should confirm policies of preferred journal before using pre-print servers

Many journals allow pre-prints if disclosed at submission

Journal publication is:

Delayed

Under review OR

Does not report all outcomes (e.g. secondary)

Upload summary results to a clinical trials registry

Upload results table using the ANZCTR template to include all pre-specified outcomes

✔ Accepted by ICMJE‑aligned journals⁶

Uploading summary results to the ANZCTR is not considered prior publication by journals. This approach is now standard practice for most journals

Access to all trial outputs in the one place for the public

Link publications and outputs provided in pre-prints or institutional repositories to the trial registry record

Update the registry record with:

- DOI(s) of published articles

- DOI(s) or links to pre-prints or institutional repositories

- Files where permitted by copyright

✔ … though trial investigators should check embargo period before uploading journal publication to an institutional repository

Create findable trial outputs with low administrative burden on trial investigator

Use the ACTRN across all trial outputs

Include the ACTRN in:

- Protocols and SAPs

- Conference proceedings

- Pre-prints and journal manuscripts

Not applicable

Allows the ANZCTR to automatically link trial outputs within the trial registry record

Summary

Australian and New Zealand governments and international organisations expect trial results and related materials to be publicly accessible, regardless of publication status or trial outcomes. The ANZCTR provides practical options to help trial investigators meet these requirements without compromising future journal publications.

¹NHMRC and MRFF Open Science Policy. Available at: https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/about-us/resources/nhmrc-and-mrff-open-science-policy#toc__319
²New Zealand Health Research Council (NZ HRC). Clinical Trial Transparency Policy statement. 2020. Available at: https://www.hrc.govt.nz/sites/default/files/2020-07/HRC%20CT%20transparency%20policy.pdf
³World Health Organization. Joint statement on public disclosure of results from clinical trials. 2017. Available at: https://www.who.int/news/item/18-05-2017-joint-statement-on-registration
⁴Chan et al. Reporting summary results in clinical trial registries: updated guidance from WHO. 2025. The Lancet, Global Health. DOI: 10.1016/S2214-109X(24)00514-X
⁵ANZCTR News: Maximising the impact of every clinical trial using the ANZCTR. 2025. Available at: ANZCTR
⁶ICMJE. Recommendations for the conduct, reporting, editing, and publication of scholarly work in medical journals. 2026. Available at: CP-ACPJ220177 1..21

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