Leading Networks Partner to Improve Clinical Research
New collaboration seeks to address unique challenges facing clinical trials by applying key principles of good trials
LONDON, The UK — Some four major clinical trial networks based in low-resource settings are embarking on an exciting partnership with the Good Clinical Trials Collaborative (GCTC) to enhance clinical research in low-resource settings. By promoting the unique qualities of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and the evidence they produce, the collaboration aims to support regional research ecosystems to prioritize collaborative, informative, and efficient research responses to public health challenges.
ADVANcing Clinical Evidence in Infectious Diseases (ADVANCE-ID), Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI), Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU), The Global Health Network (TGHN), and the GCTC coordinating center at Protas, have formed Good Trials Prism. Supported and funded by Wellcome, Good Trials Prism will promote and implement the principles of good RCTs to strengthen clinical trial systems in Latin America, Southeast Asia, and South Africa.
These principles are outlined in GCTC’s Guidance for Good Randomized Clinical Trials and incorporated in the recently published draft guidance for best practices for clinical trials by the World Health Organization.
Addressing challenges in low-resource settings
Good Trials Prism is the first program of its kind to put these principles into practice across a diverse range of geographies and health challenges, particularly focusing on their applicability to low- and middle-income countries facing high rates of communicable and noncommunicable diseases, alongside limited research capacity and resources.
High-quality, principles-based guidance can play a crucial role in mitigating these challenges by providing a robust platform for all stakeholders to focus their efforts effectively and work towards common goals.
A collaborative partnership
Central to Good Trials Prism is the development of education and training materials to promote understanding and adoption of the principles, openly available for others to utilize and benefit from. The program will also undertake capacity strengthening, policy, advocacy, training, and communications work, including delivering workshops, webinars, and training courses to promote sharing of knowledge and best practices.
The networks will play a leading role in promoting and implementing the principles in their respective regions by leveraging their local knowledge and existing relationships, and tailoring resources to the needs of their research environments.
Sir Martin Landray, MBBS, PhD, professor, senior lead of the Good Clinical Trials Collaborative, said, “Good Trials Prism is a fantastic platform to further our mission to promote and support high-quality clinical trials globally. By working together to apply the principles of a good trial as outlined in our guidance and now in WHO’s draft guidance, this partnership seeks to strengthen clinical trial systems and help overcome barriers in generating reliable evidence in low-resource settings and across the world.”
- This press release was originally published on the Good Clinical Trials Collaborative website