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EDCTP Update | October 2024 | |
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Contents
- A new face for the EDCTP Alumni Network platform
- EDCTP-PACTR Virtual Workshop: Strategic Solutions to Enhance the Functionality of PACTR Registry
- EDCTP at ASTMH
- Public consultation on the PREPARED code
- Recent events
- EDCTP2 project news
- EDCTP Fellows
- Publications
- Resources
- Training and funding opportunities
- Mark your calendar
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A new face for the EDCTP Alumni Network platform | |
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We are excited to announce that the EDCTP Alumni Network platform has recently been through a redesign process to enhance the platform’s visual appearance and to improve its user experience. The platform facilitates networking and collaboration among current and former EDCTP Fellows and the extended research community. It also provides a mechanism by which EDCTP can profile all Fellows, provide visibility of Fellows, keep track of their career progress and periodically evaluate the impact of the Fellowship programme.
A pilot version of the platform was presented at the Fellows Meeting on 7 November 2023, where Fellows were introduced to its new functionality and were able to provide feedback. The revamped platform has been redesigned to be more intuitive to users and provides a greater scope for updating of information by Fellows. For example, it is now easier for Fellows to add information on new grants received or articles published using integrated author ID functionalities. It is also easier to identify Fellows based on geographic or disease area criteria. Fellows can also keep track of each other career milestones using enhanced interactive functionalities on the platform.
Click here to explore the new EDCTP Alumni Network platform »
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EDCTP-PACTR Virtual Workshop: Strategic Solutions to Enhance the Functionality of PACTR Registry | |
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EDCTP and the Pan African Clinical Trials Registry (PACTR) will host a virtual workshop on ‘Strategic Solutions to Enhance the Functionality of PACTR Registry.’ The workshop aims to provide an overview of the registry functionalities and the benefits of trial registration and reporting. Feedback from participants will contribute to enhancing PACTR’s functionality and improving the transparency and visibility of clinical trial research conducted in sub-Saharan Africa.
Read more »
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The 73rd American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene’s (ASTMH) Annual Meeting will take place from 13-17 November 2024 in New Orleans, USA. The meeting is one of the biggest international conferences to exchange scientific and clinical advances in tropical medicine, hygiene, and global health. The five-day conference includes plenary sessions, science and clinical sessions, e-poster sessions, and an exhibit hall featuring the latest products and services. More information about EDCTP research presentations at the ASTMH can be found on the EDCTP website. | |
Public consultation on the PREPARED code | |
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A public consultation on the PREPARED Code – A Global Code of Conduct for Research during Pandemics – is now open to gather input from stakeholders. The code provides guidance across all research disciplines through a pandemic. It also complements the TRUST Code and the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity in minimising the risks of inequitable research and breaches of research integrity which may increase during times of crisis. The deadline to provide comments on the PREPARED code is 15 November 2024.
Read more »
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EDCTP at the 11th Zambia Health Research Conference | |
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The 11th Zambia Health Research Conference took place from 15-17 October 2024 in Lusaka, Zambia. The conference is held biennially and brings together researchers, scientists, health professionals, policymakers, and the general public. It provides a platform for disseminating research evidence, sharing best practices, innovationsand knowledge aimed at improving public health and contributing to socio-economic development.
Dr Thomas Nyirenda, Strategic Partnerships & Capacity Development Manager and Head of Africa Office, EDCTP Association, gave a keynote speech on “Finance, Governance, and Leadership for Accelerating Universal Health Coverage.” In his talk, Dr Nyirenda stressed that Africa has 20% of world population, bears 25% of the global burden of diseases, and yet only 3% of health research takes place on the African continent. In order to achieve universal health coverage index beyond 70%, researchers have a role to provide evidence for policy in areas of financing for health in Africa, health governance in Africa, and health systems optimisation and implementation research as well as clinical trials in Africa.
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EDCTP visit to Sierra Leone | |
Dr Thomas Nyirenda, Strategic Partnerships & Capacity Development Manager and Head of the Africa Office, Mary Jane Coloma-Egelink, Grants Finance Officer, and Dr Debora Bade, Project Officer, EDCTP Association visited three research and innovation projects implemented in Sierre Leone from 21-25 October 2024. MULTIPLY and PREVAC-UP are two projects executed by the College of Medicine & Allied Health Sciences of the University of Sierra Leone. Here, the EDCTP team met with Prof. Mohamed Samai, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, and the respective in-country leads Augustin Fombah (MULTIPLY) and Dr Farba Faye (PREVAC-UP). The EDCTP team also visited associated implementation sites in Port Loko (MULTIPLY) and Mambolo/Kambia (PREVAC-UP). The EDCTP team spent one day at the Kenema government hospital where the LEAP4WA project to advance the development of a Lassa fever vaccine candidate is implemented. | |
Mr Abdoulie Barry, acting Executive Director, and Dr Pauline Beattie, Operations Manager and Scientific Adviser, EDCTP Association visited the ESRIFAL project in Cameroon from 21-22 October 2024. ESRIFAL is a Senior Fellowship-Plus project led by Professor Samuel Wanji, University of Buea (Senior Fellow), working with Dr Hamit Mahamat Mahamat Alio of the University of N’Djaména, Chad (Trainee Fellow). The project involves a clinical trial to explore the efficacy of rifampicin and albendazole in treating Onchocerciasis in areas of co-endemicity with Loiasis, and supports PhD and Masters students in Cameroon and Chad. More information about the project is available from EDCTP’s recent interview with Professor Wanji. | |
Comments from the PREPARED project integrated into the Declaration of Helsinki 2024 | | |
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Among the updates in the new version of the Declaration of Helsinki, released on 19 October 2024, included comments submitted by the PREPARED project team. These comments are related to Articles 19 and 20, which focus on vulnerable groups and individuals. The comments were taken on board by the World Medical Association (WMA) Working Group who developed and revised the Declaration.
The Declaration was first issued in 1964 and is now one of the most influential ethics guidelines world-wide. It emphasizes the importance of conducting research safely and ethically, minimising risks, and ensuring the well-being of research participants.
Read more »
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ShigaPlexIM: SUNSHINE trial begins testing new shigellosis vaccine | | |
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The SUNSHINE phase Ia/b trial for the InvaplexAR-Detox/dmLT vaccine, a new vaccine candidate against shigellosis, has started on 10 October 2024 with the first administration of the vaccine at the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), The Netherlands. The trial, part of the ShigaPlexIM project, is coordinated by the European Vaccine Initiative (EVI), who oversees the clinical trial monitoring. Once initial safety data are collected, the trial will continue in a Shigella endemic setting at the Centre for Infectious Disease Research (CIDRZ) in Zambia.
Read more »
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ETEC ETVAX study completes paediatric phase IIb trial for ETVAX® vaccine in The Gambia | | |
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Scandinavian Biopharma announced on 10 October 2024 the successful completion of its large paediatric phase IIb trial for ETVAX®, a promising vaccine candidate against enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), commonly called traveler’s diarrhea, conducted in The Gambia. The trial is part of the ETEC ETVAX study, funded by EDCTP2. The promising findings from this study are a significant step forward in the mission to provide an essential ETEC vaccine for children in low- and middle-income countries and for travellers.
Read more »
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The DPP consortium completed recruitment for a primaquine bioequivalence study in Ethiopia, and started recruitment for phase II paediatric dosage studies in Burkina Faso and Ethiopia | | |
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Forty participants were recruited in the bioequivalence (BE) study in Kolfe Keranyo district, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Follow up was completed on 22 August 2024. This study is evaluating if a new generic form of primaquine, produced by IPCA (India) is bio-equivalent to the product currently on the market and manufactured by Sanofi (France). Complete data analysis is expected by early 2025, including submission of the dossier to the WHO prequalification team.
Furthermore, recruitment in two phase II clinical trials has started in October 2024 in Ethiopia and Burkina Faso. These trails are validating the use of the generic paediatric dosages and assessing the acceptability of flavoured tablets of primaquine for radical cure and transmission-blocking treatments in Ethiopia and Burkina Faso.
Read more »
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GELA consortium contributed to the WHO child health guidelines development process | | |
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In response to poor child health outcomes and gaps in evidence-informed child health guidelines, the Global Evidence-Local Adaptation (GELA) project, established in 2022, explores and strengthens approaches for adopting and/or adapting country guidelines if available, or developing such guidelines when not established.
The GELA consortium concluded that long-term investment in strengthening national decision-making capacity is crucial for the sustainable development of evidence-informed decision-making in low- and middle-income countries. Strengthening decision-making and improving national guideline infrastructures would enhance the capability of guideline panels and technical teams to produce high-quality guidelines.
The findings, approaches, and lessons learned from this study have been published in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization in October 2024 available here.
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WANETAM organises training for laboratory quality management | | |
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On 25 October 2024, the EDCTP Network of Excellence WANETAM completed a five-day training for Laboratory Quality Management Systems (LQMS) implementers within the Network. Organised by the Network’s Laboratory & Quality Assurance Training & Implementation (LAQTI) work package in collaboration with the MRC Unit The Gambia at LSHTM, the training brought together 18 LQMS personnel and Biomedical Engineers from ten countries in West Africa. It aimed to develop competence and confidence in participants’ understanding and application of the ISO 15189:2022 standard.
Read more »
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Jean Nachega: collaborating for research on mpox in Africa | |
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Former EDCTP Senior Fellow Professor Jean Nachega has been profiled in The Lancet where he discusses how the mpox outbreak has affected DR Congo and other African countries, and the need to better understand its impact in Africa, including in children and infants. Professor Jean Nachega, who is originally from DR Congo, currently holds positions at Stellenbosch University, South Africa, and the University of Pittsburgh, USA. An accomplished researcher in HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, he became one of Africa’s leading scientists on COVID-19 through his work at the University of Cape Town during the pandemic. Professor Nachega generated knowledge about the impact of COVID-19 in Africa, and helped to establish multiple research, advocacy, and capacity-building projects on COVID-19. He has turned his focus to the mpox emergency.
Read more »
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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.
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The Lancet Global Health: The effect of intermittent preventive treatment for malaria with dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine on vaccine-specific responses among schoolchildren in rural Uganda (POPVAC B): a double-blind, randomised controlled trial. Zirimenya, L, et al. 1 November 2024
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Plos One: The TB vaccine clinical trial centre directory: An inventory of clinical trial centres in Sub-Saharan Africa. Pelzer, P T, et al. 28 October 2024
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Wellcome Open Research: Using single-dose liposomal amphotericin B for cryptococcal meningitis induction therapy: nurse pearls and practical perspectives. Ndyetukira, JF, et al. 17 October 2024
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Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene: Assessment of uptake of sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine for intermittent preventive treatment among pregnant women in Osun State, Nigeria. Adegbola, A J, et al. 14 October 2024
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International Journal for Equity in Health: Navigating HIV research among criminalized gender minority populations in Uganda: qualitative insights and lessons learned from novice researchers. Muwanguzi, P A, et al. 7 October 2024
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Plos Neglected Tropical Diseases: An integrated active case detection and management of skin NTDs in yaws endemic health districts in Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana. Tchatchouang, S, et al. 4 October 2024
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European Journal of Clinical Nutrition: Insulin resistance and beta-cell dysfunction in adults with different patterns of diet: a cross-sectional study in north-western Tanzania. Malindisa, EK, et al. 3 October 2024
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BMC Nutrition: Is fat mass a better predictor of 6-month survival than muscle mass among African children aged 6-59 months with severe pneumonia? Nalwanga, D, et al. 30 September 2024
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PNAS: TCA metabolism regulates DNA hypermethylation in LPS and Mycobacterium tuberculosis–induced immune tolerance. Abhimanyu, et al. 30 September 2024
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Frontiers in medicine: Empowering adolescents living with perinatally-acquired HIV: tailored CD4+ count assessment for optimized care, the EDCTP READY-study. Pabo, T, et al. 20 September 2024
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Open Forum Infectious Diseases: Association Between Vitamin D Insufficiency and Impaired Bone Density Among Adolescents With Perinatally Acquired HIV Infection. Dzavakwa, N V, et al. 19 September 2024
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The Lancet: A call for global solidarity and rapid action to control mpox. Nachegaa, JB, et al. 9 September 2024
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Health Science Reports: Expression patterns of immune checkpoint proteins and Plasmodium falciparum-induced cytokines in chronic hepatitis B virus-infected and uninfected individuals: a cross-sectional study. Segbefia, SP, et al. 29 July 2024
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Training and funding opportunities | |
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Meade Collaboration Travel Grants in Epidemiology 2024 | Deadline for applicationa: 13 November 2024
The Medical Research Foundation is offering travel funding opportunities for mid-career researchers based in sub-Saharan African to conduct collaborative research and advance epidemiological skills. Applications are welcomed from mid-career researchers in sub-Saharan Africa, working in the field of epidemiology, who are making the transition to research independence and wish to develop collaborations with researchers based at a UK research organisation. The research should focus on epidemiology with relevance to human health. The deadline for applications is on 13 November 2024.
More information »
25th ADVAC – Advanced course of vaccinology | Deadline for applications: 15 November 2024
ADVAC is a two-week training programme for decision-makers, including academia, industry, governmental and non-governmental agencies. The Course aims to facilitate critical decision-making in vaccinology by providing participants with a comprehensive overview of the various aspects of vaccinology (immunology, vaccine development, clinical trials, regulatory processes, vaccine-specific issues including new vaccines, vaccination strategies and policies, programme implementation, humanitarian emergencies, social, economic, political and ethical issues, financing, and communications). The 25th edition of ADVAC will take place from 5-16 May 2025 at Les Pensières Center for Global Health, Veyrier du Lac, France. The deadline for applications is on 15 November 2024.
More information »
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EDCTP events
Twelfth EDCTP Forum | 15-20 June 2025
The Twelfth EDCTP Forum will take place on 15-20 June 2025, at the Kigali Convention Centre in Kigali, Rwanda. The event will be hosted by the Ministry of Health of Rwanda and the Rwanda Biomedical Centre, and jointly organised by Global Health EDCTP3 and the EDCTP Association. The theme for the 2025 Forum is “Better health through global research partnerships”. More information on the programme, registration, abstract submission and sponsorship opportunities will be made available on the Forum website, which will be launched soon.
Other events
ASTMH Annual Meeting | 13-17 November 2024
The ASTMH Annual Meeting will take place from 13-17 November 2024 in New Orleans, USA. The meeting is the premier international forum for exchanging scientific and clinical advances in tropical medicine, hygiene and global health. Research findings, clinical updates, and topical discussions about the key global issues from the world’s brightest scientific experts and thought leaders are presented over five days.
More information »
Science Forum South Africa | 4-6 December 2024
The Science Forum South Africa will be held from 4 to 6 December 2024 at the CSIR International Convention Centre in Pretoria, South Africa. The Forum serves as a large, open, public platform for debating the science and society interface. The theme is Igniting Conversations about Science – Innovation and Science for Humanity.
More information »
Third Annual Ethiopian Research Ethics Conference 2024 | 10-11 December 2024
The Third Annual Ethiopian Research Ethics Conference 2024 will take place on 10-11 December 2024. The event is co-hosted by Addis Ababa University, Johns Hopkins Berman Institute, and Ethiopian Ministry of Education. Invited speakers include Ethiopian and international experts. Additionally, the programme will consist of selected poster display and oral presentations. The conference is accepting two types of presentation formats: oral presentations and poster presentations. Submissions addressing research ethics issues or processes relevant to research implementation and governance in Ethiopia are invited.
More information »
WHO launches new clinical trials guidance – What do I need to know?
The publication of the WHO guidance for best practices for clinical trials in September 2024 was a major milestone. For the first time, there is now global guidance applicable to design and conduct of all clinical trials (whether or not they include investigational products), also with relevance to observational studies. WHO and The Global Health Network are convening a global event to present the key aspects of this new guidance. This will be an informative opportunity to hear directly from WHO and learn how this guidance can help support and strengthen your research.
More information »
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EDCTP Communications thanks everyone who provided information for this Update. |
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