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A message from Mr Abdoulie Barry, EDCTP Association’s Executive Director

This has been a significant and productive year for the EDCTP Association. We have made substantial progress toward ensuring the successful conclusion of all EDCTP2-funded projects in the coming year, while also laying a solid foundation for the future activities of the EDCTP Association, utilising the extensive experience and skills of the staff, and continuing to support the Association’s constituencies.

Global Health EDCTP3 to fund up to €147 million in research and innovation projects in 2026

Global Health EDCTP3 has launched its 2026 Work Programme, which includes six calls for proposals to support research and innovation projects addressing tuberculosis, lower respiratory tract infections, HIV, climate-change-driven infectious diseases and other pressing global health challenges. The calls for proposals will open for submission by mid-January 2026.

To support interested applicants, an online Info Day will be held on 5 February 2026. During the event, participants will receive detailed information on the call topics, application process and evaluation criteria.

Strengthening the HIV response through African leadership and global collaboration

On World AIDS Day 2025, we reflected on the progress made and the ongoing challenges that remain in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The recent shifts in international research funding highlight a critical truth: overcoming HIV/AIDS requires both sustainable global commitment and locally driven solutions. By supporting collaborative research, strengthening the research ecosystem, and empowering African scientists and communities through EDCTP-funded research, we are helping to build a more sustainable, inclusive, and effective global HIV response.

Free access to SEPTRE platform

Researchers from low- and middle-income countries can still apply for one of the remaining free three-year licenses for the SPIRIT Electronic Protocol Tool and Resource (SEPTRE) platform. SEPTRE is an online resource that helps researchers create, manage, and register clinical trial protocols in accordance with SPIRIT (Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Interventional Trials) guidelines.

EDCTP: Two decades of Africa-Europe partnership delivering excellent science and life-saving innovations

For over 20 years, EDCTP has been at the heart of an ambitious Africa–Europe collaboration that is transforming global health. In an article in Science | Business, the CEOs of the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), and Mundo Sano discuss some of EDCTP’s success stories and how long‑term, equitable partnerships can turn scientific excellence into real‑world impact.

EDCTP2 project news

Boosting global vaccinology capacity

Proving the value of malaria vaccines: how case-control studies can guide immunisation strategies

Spotlight on TB Innovation: bringing diagnosis closer to communities

SINDOFO Consortium completes recruitment for the ZYFER-1 study: marking progress toward a new short-course malaria treatment

EDCTP Fellows

SCEPRESSA project celebrates the graduation of fellows

From clinic to command: How the EDCTP IDEA Fellowship grant shaped a public health leader in Uganda

Publications

EDCTP is a member of Europe PMC. This enables EDCTP-funded researchers to share their publications via one central location. Sharing publications by EuropePMC also ensures compliance with EDCTP grant requirements to make publications openly accessible as soon as possible. Submit your manuscript through Europe PMC Plus. 

• The Journal of Infectious Diseases: Chlamydia trachomatis-specific T Cell Immunity Reflects Widespread Exposure in South African Adolescents and Young Women. Bunjun R, et al. 3 December 2025
• AIDS (London, England): Pharmacokinetics of lopinavir/ritonavir in second-line treatment of children with HIV in the CHAPAS-4 trial. Kamphuis, AEM, et al. 1 December 2025
• Scientific Reports: Evaluating the role of microplastics and wastewater in shaping Vibrio spp. and antibiotic resistance gene abundance in urban freshwaters. Nnadozie HO, et al. 27 November 2025
• BMC Infectious Diseases: Spatio-temporal trends of artemisinin-based combination therapy efficacy from 2010 to 2024 in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Bohissou, FET, et al. 25 November 2025
• JMIR Research Protocols: Effect of SMS Reminders, Telephone Calls, and Transport Incentives on Enhancing the Completion of Tuberculosis Diagnosis and Initiation of Treatment for Diagnosed Patients: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial. Nuwematsiko R, et al. 25 November 2025
• Plos Neglected Tropical Diseases: Leprosy perceptions and health seeking behaviour in Miandrivazo district, Madagascar. Rasolofozafy H, et al. 24 November 2025
• BMC Genomic Data: Cohort profile: the pharmacogenomics and pharmacokinetics study in Ghanaian HIV patients (GenoPharm-GH). Thomford NE, et al. 24 November 2025
• BMC Microbiology: Incidence and antimicrobial resistance of non-typhoidal Salmonella enterica in stool samples from children under five in peri-urban Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Héma A, et al. 24 November 2025
• The Journal of Animal Ecology: Land use gradients drive spatial variation in Lassa fever host communities in the Eastern Province of Sierra Leone. Simons D, et al. 21 November 2025
• Journal of Clinical Epidemiology: User experiences of qualitative evidence in the GRADE evidence-to-decision framework: findings from Malawi, Nigeria, and South Africa. Besniera E, et al. 19 November 2025
• BMJ Global Health: An extended cost-effectiveness analysis of decentralised TB diagnostic testing with Molbio Truenat MTB/RIF versus hub-and-spoke GeneXpert MTB/RIF in Mozambique and Tanzania. Bashir S, et al. 19 November 2025
• Scientific Reports: Benchtop NMR urine metabolomics for diagnosing pulmonary tuberculosis. Comella-del-Barrio P, et al. 19 November 2025
• Frontiers in Parasitology: Assessing the diagnostic value of qPCR for Trichuris trichiura: sub-analysis of a multi-country clinical trial to determine the efficacy of albendazole compared to an albendazole-ivermectin fixed dose combination. Fleitas PE, et al. 6 November 2025
• Bioengineering (Basel, Switzerland): Enhancing Clinical Decision-Making in Pediatric Monitoring: Learning Threshold Alarm Patterns to Predict Critical Illness. Chiziwa C, et al. 5 November 2025
• Nature Communications: Multi-view deep learning framework for the detection of chest X-rays compatible with pediatric pulmonary tuberculosis. Capellán-Martín D, et al. 27 October 2025
• Vaccines: A Multiplex Serological Assay to Evaluate the Antibody Responses to a Set of Plasmodium falciparum Antigens and Their Protective Role Against Malaria in Children Aged 1.5 to 12 Years Living in a Highly Seasonal Malaria Transmission Area of Burkina Faso. Ezinmegnon S, et al. 24 October 2025
• Paediatric Respiratory Reviews: Respiratory oscillometry in infants: present challenges and future opportunities. Moschovis PP, et al. 13 October 2025

• EDCTP | Knowledge Hub: Tools and guidance for conducting clinical research
• EDCTP | Alumni Network
• ERUDIT | Planning for Financial Sustainability manual
• TRUST project | A Global Code of Conduct for Equitable Research Partnerships
• PACTR | Open access clinical trial registry
• PAVIA project | PV strengthening blue-print
• PREPARED | Free training materials on research ethics
• WHO-TDR | Global Health Matters podcast

SAHRI Fellowship Program: advancing Africa’s future in infectious disease research leadership

The SAHRI Fellowship Program is a three-year training programme for 12 mid-career biomedical and clinical researchers from sub-Saharan Africa, designed to develop future leaders in infectious disease research and innovation. Funded by Global Health EDCTP3, it offers a research-focused MSc in Tropical Medicine, an internship at BioNTech, hands-on placements at leading African research institutions, and a structured return-home implementation phase. Applications are open until 1 February 2026.

Oxford Global Health and Bioethics International Conference: call for abstracts

The Oxford Global Health & Bioethics International Conference will be held on 15–16 July 2026. It will bring together the global health bioethics community and provide a platform to share research, exchange ideas, and build collaborations. This year’s conference will focus on the most pressing ethical issues in global health policy, practice, and research—those requiring sustained and substantial attention from researchers, funders, and policymakers. The call for abstracts is now open, with a submission deadline of 2 February 2025.

Ninth Global Symposium on Health Systems Research: call for abstracts

The Ninth Global Symposium on Health Systems Research (HSR2026) will take place from 9–11 November 2026 in Dubai and will bring together stakeholders involved in health systems, policy, and research. The theme of HSR2026 is “Future-focused health systems in a changing world.” A call for abstracts is open, with a submission deadline of 30 January 2026.

ANRS Emerging infectious diseases Start programme

In 2024, ANRS MIE launched the Start programme to support junior researchers (particularly Master’s students, PhD students and post-doctoral fellows) working on the agency’s research priorities (HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis, tuberculosis, STIs, and emerging infectious diseases). The 2025 edition offers multiple opportunities to support the next generation of scientific researchers in these areas.

Global Health EDCTP3 Info Day 2026 | 5 February 2026

The Global Health EDCTP Info Day 2026 will take place online on 5 February 2026, from 9:00 to 13:00, CET. Representatives from Global Health EDCTP3 and the EDCTP Association will present the six research call topics, clarify legal and financial issues and respond to questions from the audience.

Financial & Project Management Training for Global Health EDCTP3 grant holders

The EDCTP Association, in collaboration with the Global Health EDCTP3 Joint Undertaking, is holding in-person Financial and Project Management training workshops from 23 to 25 March 2026, in Nairobi, Kenya and from 18 to 20 May 2026, in Johannesburg, South Africa. The training is aimed at African beneficiaries who have recently been awarded Global Health EDCTP3 grants. You can find more details and registration requirements via the links Nairobi training and Johannesburg training.

9th World Conference on Research Integrity | 3-6 May 2026

The 9th World Conference on Research Integrity will be held in Vancouver, Canada, from 3-6 May 2026. Open to all disciplines and career stages, the WCRI engages universities, research institutes, funders, publishers, and governments in lively discussions. The programme features a mix of research findings, reflections, and policy development. Abstract submissions are invited on all areas of research integrity, with a focus on Artificial Intelligence, Research Security, and Indigenous Knowledge Systems. The submission deadline is 15 October 2025.

18th World Congress of Bioethics (WCB) of the International Association of Bioethics | 8-10 July 2026

The Steve Biko Centre for Bioethics will host the 18th World Congress of Bioethics (WCB) from 8-10 July 2026 in Johannesburg, South Africa. This marks the first time the Congress is held in Africa, supported by leaders from various African countries through the Congress Africa Committee. The theme is “Comforting and Disturbing Bioethics,” and will include full and short oral presentations, posters, workshops, and panel sessions.