Fri 23 October 2026
‘Opening doors to new therapies’: Romana Cecchele wins AdPha Medal of Merit
Advanced Pharmacy Australia (AdPha) today awarded Romana Cecchele FANZCAP (Lead&Mgmt, ClinTrials) the 2026 AdPha Medal of Merit for her outstanding contribution to clinical trials pharmacy and her national leadership in improving patient access to investigational and novel therapies.
Romana joined Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPA) in Sydney in 2014, during a period of rapid growth in clinical trial activity, and re-established the hospital pharmacy's Investigational Drugs Unit.
Under her leadership the unit grew to manage more than 350 concurrent clinical trials and over 100 medication access programs, and she was recognised with the Sydney Local Health District Excellence in Clinical Trial Support Award in 2022. Romana also led the transformation and modernisation of the NSW Clinical Trial Pharmacy Fee Schedule into a statewide tool, which continues to serve as a benchmark for clinical trial costing and management in NSW.
Nationally, she has co-chaired the AdPha Clinical Trials Leadership Committee from 2020 to 2025, contributed to the formation of the AdPha Registrar Training Program, and is lead author of the AdPha Clinical Trials Registrar Training Program Framework. A foundation Fellow of ANZCAP, she now brings her expertise to national regulation at the Therapeutic Goods Administration, where she works on clinical trials reform.
A committed educator, Romana has directly overseen the training of more than 30 clinical trial pharmacists, presented at conferences and lectured at the University of Sydney on medication access pathways, clinical trials and ethical trial design.
Presenting the award at the close of Day One of Medicines Management 2026 (MM2026) in Brisbane, AdPha President Assoc. Prof Tom Simpson FANZCAP (Lead&Mgmt) said Romana has helped build the foundations that clinical pharmacy research in Australia depends on.
‘Every new therapy that reaches patients through a clinical trial relies on pharmacists who understand the science, the regulation and the logistics – and Romana has shaped how that work is done, first at RPA, then across New South Wales and nationally.
'Her leadership of AdPha’s Clinical Trials Leadership Committee, her work on the Clinical Trials Residency Framework and her generosity in training the next generation of trial pharmacists mean her impact will be felt for many years to come.
'The AdPha Medal of Merit is reserved for members whose contribution fundamentally changes the profession, and Romana exemplifies this.’
Dr Fiona Warner, Manager (Dispensary) at Launceston General Hospital, who worked alongside Romana in RPA's Investigational Drugs Unit from 2016 to 2020 said Romana had built a high-performing team in one of pharmacy's most complex and specialised areas.
‘Romana cultivated a psychologically safe working environment, which resulted in an efficient and high performing team in a complex and niche area of pharmacy.
'Romana brings together strategic vision, operational expertise, and a deep commitment to improving patient access to investigational therapies. Her leadership, professionalism, and collaborative approach have earned her the respect of colleagues across institutions and organisations.’
AdPha congratulates Romana on this well-deserved national honour and thanks her for her ongoing leadership, advocacy and commitment to ensuring patients can safely access the therapies of the future.