Please access the online session herehttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/84672355232?pwd=RlBFUXF1UzRVN3ZNWGFoNitXczUvZz09Clinical trials and product focused implementation research are essential components of health research. When integrated with health systems, they are key instruments for the development of effective diagnosis, prevention and treatment strategies, as well as their implementation in the real life environment. Regional differences in terms of disease burden, population demographics, genetic differences, socio-economic factors and health systems may result in different health priorities, clinical research and capacity needs. Establishing a robust clinical research infrastructure is a highly important development step to address region-specific health challenges faced within particular health systems.
The COVID-19 crisis starkly revealed gaps in global preparedness and accelerated concerted international collaboration at all levels. The development of vaccines has been exceptional by any known standards drawing on decades of cutting-edge science, technology & innovation (STI), in many cases publicly funded but blended with excellent private sector execution. Despite the exceptional performance, access remains a key issue and cross-border ethics and regulatory hurdles, quality sample, data collection and sharing mechanisms need to be streamlined. Governments should capitalize on the momentum from the response to COVID-19 to coordinate efforts by all stakeholders, including private actors as well as development banks, and provide sustainable governance and funding mechanisms for tackling global health challenges.
This session on building coordinated research infrastructures for clinical research, co-chaired by the European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) and the European Clinical Research Infrastructure Network (ECRIN), brings together key global health actors to collectively discuss lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and the next steps towards the comprehensive mobilization of all stakeholders for building sustainable clinical research preparedness and response capacities.
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The European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) is a public–public partnership between 14 European and 16 African countries, supported by the European Union. EDCTP’s vision is to reduce the individual, social and economic burden of poverty-related infectious diseases affecting sub-Saharan Africa. EDCTP’s mission is to accelerate the development of new or improved medicinal products for the identification, treatment and prevention of infectious diseases, including emerging and re-emerging diseases, through pre- and post-registration clinical studies, with emphasis on phase II and III clinical trials. EDCTP’s approach integrates conduct of research with development of African clinical research capacity and networking.
The European Clinical Research Infrastructure Network (ECRIN-ERIC) is a not-for-profit intergovernmental organisation that supports the conduct of multinational clinical trials in Europe. ECRIN works with national networks of clinical trial units (CTUs), as well as numerous European and international stakeholders involved in clinical research. ECRIN is also a founding member of the Clinical Research Initiative for Global Health (CRIGH) which brings together more than 40 member and observer institutions across the globe to establish a framework for international cooperation in non-commercial clinical trials and to promote evidence-based medicine through various activities focused on infrastructure and funding, global core competencies, research ethics, patient involvement, comparative effectiveness research and socio-economic impact, and data management and sharing.
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