EDCTP side event at UNGA77 Science Summit

30 Sep 2022 15:00 - 30 Sep 2022 17:00
Virtual
Type of event International meeting

Funding research for impact: strengthening the role of science and evidence-based policymaking

30 September 2022 – 09:00-11:00 EDT/15:00-17:00 CEST (virtual)

As part of the 8th edition of the Science Summit around the 77th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA77), EDCTP will organise a side event to illustrate the value of global partnerships using EDCTP as a case study on advancing the production and usage of reliable research evidence in addressing unmet medical needs, especially amongst vulnerable populations in Africa. The objectives of the session will be to:

  • Promote awareness about EDCTP and its role and contribution to attaining the SDGs
  • Showcase examples of how EDCTP and its partners have contributed toward the generation of reliable data that informs the formulation and adoption of international guidelines as well as locally generated evidence-based policies within the national health research systems in sub-Saharan Africa
  • Demonstrate how highly collaborative international research infrastructures work as a driver for international cooperation and data-driven decision making
  • Discuss what enabling research, policy, regulatory and financial environments are needed to facilitate high-quality clinical research in Africa addressing local priorities with global alignment and policy relevance.

More information about the session is available on the website of the Science Summit at UNGA77.

Agenda


Chairs:

  • Catherine Hankins, Chairperson of the EDCTP Scientific Advisory Committee (Canada)
  • John Gyapong, Vice-chair of the EDCTP Scientific Advisory Committee (Ghana)

Programme:

15:00-15:05
Welcome from the co-Chairs

15:05-15:15
Combatting the unmet medical challenges and policy-relevant demands attributed to PRDs in sub-Saharan Africa
Michael Makanga, EDCTP (Netherlands)

15:15-15:25
Case study 1 – Simpler and safer treatment of cryptococcal meningitis (AMBITION-cm)
Joe Jarvis, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM, United Kingdom)

15:25-15:35
Case study 2 – Prevention of invasive Group B Streptococcus disease in young infants and generating vital data on COVID-19 infections in pregnant women and their offspring in sub-Saharan Africa (PREPARE & periCOVID-Africa)
Kirsty Le Doare, St. George’s Hospital Medical School (United Kingdom)

15:35-15:45
Case study 3 – Strengthening the evidence for policy on the RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine: assessment of safety and effectiveness using case-control studies embedded in the Malaria Vaccine Pilot Evaluation (MVPE-CC)
Kwaku Poku Asante, Kintampo Health Research Centre (Ghana)

15:45-15:55
Case study 4 – Development of paediatric fixed-dose combination therapy for HIV-infected children in Africa (The CHAPAS trials)
Mutsa Bwakura-Dangarembizi, University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences (Zimbabwe)

15:55-16:05
Audience Q&A

16:05-16:40
Panel discussion

Working together to achieve more: Supporting research in Africa to facilitate high-quality clinical research generating valuable new evidence that can be translated into policy and practice

  • Jimmy Volmink, Stellenbosch University (South Africa)
  • Juliet Nabyonga-Orem, WHO Regional Office for Africa
  • Godfrey Biemba, National Health Research Authority (NHRA, Zambia)
  • Maria-Teresa Bejarano, Swedish Development Cooperation Agency (Sida, Sweden)
  • Chimwemwe Chamdimba, African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD)
  • Elmar Nimmesgern, Global Health EDCTP3 Joint Undertaking, and DG Research and Innovation, European Commission

16:40-16:50
Audience Q&A and discussion

16:50-17:00
Closing remarks
Leonardo Simão and Marcel Tanner, EDCTP High Representatives

Chairs and speakers

Chairs: 

  • Catherine Hankins, Professor and Interim Chair, Dept. of Global & Public Health, School of Population & Global Health, McGill University, Montreal; Chairperson of the EDCTP Scientific Advisory Committee
  • John Gyapong, University of Health and Allied Science in Ghana; Vice-chair of the EDCTP Scientific Advisory Committee

Speakers:

  • Elmar Nimmesgern, Interim Executive Director of the Global Health EDCTP3 Joint Undertaking and Policy Officer, DG RTD
  • Godfrey Biemba, Director and CEO, National Health Research Authority (NHRA), Zambia
  • Jimmy Volmink, Dean, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
  • Joe Jarvis, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), United Kingdom
  • Juliet Nabyonga-Orem, Team Leader Health Financing and Investment Program, WHO/AFRO
  • Kirsty Le Doare, St George’s Hospital Medical School, United Kingdom
  • Kwaku Poku Asante, Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana
  • Leonardo Simão, EDCTP High Representative for Africa
  • Marcel Tanner, EDCTP High Representative for Europe
  • Maria-Teresa Bejarano, Senior Research Advisor, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida)
  • Michael Makanga, Executive Director; EDCTP, Netherlands
  • Mutsa Bwakura-Dangarembizi, University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences, Zimbabwe
  • Chimwemwe Chamdimba, Senior Policy Specialist, African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD)