Launch of the EACCR Network of Excellence for clinical trials

The East African Consortium for Clinical Research (EACCR) is pleased to announce the launch of its regional Network of Excellence for Eastern Africa on 21-22 January 2010. The EACCR is an EDCTP-funded project with the ultimate goal of integrating and synergising efforts to:

• Strengthen research capacity
• Design, conduct, evaluate and communicate large multi-centre clinical trials under best international practices in this region
• Network amongst partners and improve south-south and north-north collaborations
• Facilitate EDCTP’s vision of accelerating development of new drugs and tools to control HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

The regional Networks unite institutions that collaborate on the basis of their complementary individual strengths such as in good practises for conduct of clinical trials (GCP and GCLP), data management and laboratory capacity. The networks have infrastructural development as well as human capacity development components. Through facilitation of collaborative research activities, training and mentorship schemes, these networks are anticipated to raise the quality of clinical research and practice in sub-Saharan Africa.

The EACCR is coordinated by Dr Pontiano Kaleebu and unites institutions from Ethiopia, Germany, Kenya, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Sudan, Tanzania, United Kingdom and Uganda.

For more information, please contact Dr George Miiro at gmmiiro[at]yahoo.co.uk.