Goodbye 2008, welcome 2009

Prof. Charles Mgone, EDCTP Executive Director

2008 has been a very fulfilling year that saw many achievements with the EDCTP programme. None of these would have been realised without the hard work, dedication and commitment of all our partners who have continued to work alongside us in our battle against poverty-related diseases. For this we show our sincere gratitude and appreciation. We also thank very much all members of the various EDCTP constituents who have tirelessly worked very hard to bring us to where we are today. Nevertheless, the past and the present are but stages for the future, and as we say goodbye to 2008, we welcome 2009, which promises to be as busy or even busier than 2008 as far as EDCTP is concerned. May I therefore take this opportunity to wish you all a prosperous 2009.

For EDCTP, 2009 will begin with an all-constituents meeting in February to plan on the future strategy of the Partnership beyond 2010. This very important meeting will bring together our network officers, policy makers and scientific advisors to discuss on various issues ranging from the scientific research agenda to the governance of EDCTP.

We also all look forward to meet you all at the Fifth EDCTP Forum in Arusha, Tanzania, later in the year on 12-14 October. Since EDCTP forums have now become major platforms for discussions on poverty-related diseases in Africa, I would encourage all our partners to bookmark this event. This will be a great opportunity not only to share our experiences, but also to plan for the future. I sincerely look forward to meet you then.

Prof. Charles Mgone
EDCTP Executive Director

Events

The Fifth EDCTP Forum is now accepting abstracts

The Fifth EDCTP Forum Committee welcomes the submission of abstracts on clinical research in HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. The Fifth Forum, which will take place from 12 to 14 October 2009 in Arusha, Tanzania, has rapidly developed into one of the major conferences in Africa on the main poverty-related diseases. It offers a unique opportunity for reviewing the ongoing clinical research on poverty-related diseases, networking and planning for future research. Accepted abstracts will be presented in plenary, parallel or electronic poster sessions. There will be a limited number of bursaries, especially for young researchers from Africa. EDCTP grantees and collaborators are especially encouraged to submit abstracts. Read more >>

News about EDCTP Governance

EDCTP tender of hosting agreement in Europe and Africa

EDCTP’s Europe and Africa offices are currently hosted by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) in The Hague, the Netherlands, and by the South Africa Medical Research Council (MRC) in Cape Town, South Africa. Both hosting institution agreements in Europe and Africa will be retendered for the second period of the EDCTP which commences after 15 September 2010. It is envisaged that the hosting period will be for a minimum of 5 years with the possibility of extension. Read more >>

Focus on EDCTP Grantees

Project Partners database increases interactivity

Project Partners is EDCTP’s web–database that promotes networking and collaboration between European and African scientists. With currently 150 members, Project Partners is an increasingly efficient tool for creating new partnerships across the world. In order to improve the performance of Project Partners, EDCTP recently conducted a survey among its registered members to compile problems and queries arising from its use and, likewise, suggestions to improve the programme. Read more >>

Pan-African Clinical Trials Registry

The HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (ATM) Clinical Trials Registry, an African initiative funded by EDCTP, is preparing to become the principal register for all clinical trials conducted in Africa. Up until now the register has been focusing on trials on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. The ATM Registry will now be extended to include all clinical trials that are conducted in Africa and to be attain WHO primary registry status. Plans are also underway to integrate ethical review, regulation and registration of clinical trials in Africa.

The ATM registry is a searchable database of all HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria trials conducted in Africa. The ATM registry contains information on trials that are both in preparation and ongoing. Once a trial which was prospectively registered in the ATM registry is complete, the information for that trial will remain in the database, ensuring that over time the ATM registry will be a comprehensive database for all completed and ongoing trials in Africa. The ATM registry is well-placed to becoming the primary register for the African region and will transfer all trial information to the World Health Organization (WHO) International Clinical Trials Search Portal on a quarterly basis. Collaborative relationships with other relevant trial registers will be closely fostered.

News about Calls and Grants

Calls open for application

Joint Programme Activities
Available funds: €5 million
Deadline of application: 4 June 2009
Call for Experts

Funded projects

EDCTP is pleased to announce funding of the following projects:

Clinical Trials

Call Title: Support for the establishment and the strengthening of African National Ethics Committees or Institutional Review Boards
Ministry of Health Benin: “Support project for the establishment and the strengthening of the Benin”

Call Title: Support of clinical trials, capacity building and networking in malaria in pregnancy
Prof. Clara Menéndez: “Evaluation of alternative antimalarial drugs to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine for intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp) in the context of insecticide treated nets”

Call Title: Senior Fellowships
Dr Christian Happi: “Validation of New Biomarkers for Monitoring Plasmodium falciparum Reduced Susceptibility/Tolerance or Resistance to Artemisinin Derivatives and Partner Drugs in Nigeria”

Calls & grants and cofunding information on EDCTP's website

EDCTP has recently launched an expanded section on Calls & Grants on its website. This section now contains more detail for persons who wish to apply for a grant as well as EDCTP grantees with ongoing projects. Website visitors will find information on which types of grants are offered and how to apply for these grants. It also describes the process of creating a call, the review procedures and the monitoring of the grant. Read more >>

Meetings and Visits

Bamako 2008

From 17 to 19 November, EDCTP was one of the partners committed to health for all that were present at the Global Ministerial Forum on Research for Health in Bamako, Mali. As a speaker during the sessions and a standholder in the Bamako marketplace, EDCTP joined the discussions on and pledges towards structural capacity development for health research and ownership of research in developing countries.
Read more >>

EDCTP visits European Member States

In order to further foster a joint European approach to fight HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, EDCTP has started a series of visits to ‘old’ and ‘new’ EU Member States. The meetings offer a unique opportunity to bring together EDCTP representatives, relevant national ministries and research institutions to discuss cross-institutional issues such as agenda setting and cofunding of research on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria and working in partnership with African partners. Read more >>

EDCTP reinforces collaboration at SADC Ministers of Health Summit

EDCTP Africa Office was invited to participate in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Health Ministers Summit that took place in Durban, South Africa, on 11 to 16 November. EDCTP was represented by its South-South Networking Manager who presented the progress made by EDCTP in sub-Saharan countries to senior health officials that gathered for the summit. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is a regional economic community of fifteen African countries of Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Read more >>