EDCTP Association welcomes new Board members
On 20 May 2026, the General Assembly of the EDCTP Association appointed new members of its Board. These newly appointed members will play a crucial role in supporting EDCTP’s mission to strengthen research capacity and accelerate the development of new or improved interventions for poverty-related infectious diseases in sub-Saharan Africa.
The EDCTP Association looks forward to working with the new Board members and sincerely thanks its outgoing members for their dedication, support, and guidance.
The Board is responsible for the management of the Association, oversees the Secretariat on behalf of the General Assembly, and ensures that the Association’s resources are used responsibly and effectively. Board members are elected by the General Assembly representatives and their deputies and are appointed for a two-year term, which can be renewed once. The Board also represents the Association on the Governing Board of Global Health EDCTP3, the programme’s decision-making body.
“We warmly welcome the newly elected members of the EDCTP Association Board. Their distinguished expertise, extensive experience, and commitment will be instrumental in guiding the Association to deliver its mission and fulfil its contractual obligations. We also extend our sincere gratitude to the outgoing Board members for their invaluable contributions and steadfast support to the staff and management of the EDCTP Association during the early stages of the transition from EDCTP2 to the Global Health EDCTP3 programme. This period involved not only changes in the Association’s senior management but also amendments to its Articles of Association. The successful navigation of these important processes greatly benefited from the expertise, guidance, and dedication of the Board members.”
Mr Abdoulie Barry, Executive Director, EDCTP Association
“I accept the Chair of the EDCTP Association with gratitude and a deep sense of shared responsibility, determined to uphold transparent governance and maximize the impact of every euro invested in life‑saving research. United in a unique European–African partnership, we will accelerate health technologies for poverty‑related and neglected infectious diseases, strengthen health systems, and build sustainable African research capacity. Facing antimicrobial resistance, emerging infections, climate‑related health threats, and inequities in access to care, I pledge to listen to all voices and serve with integrity so that EDCTP remains a force for transformational change in global health. This is not my chairmanship, it is ours”
Prof. Karine Lacombe, Chair, EDCTP Association Board
Dr Alemseged Abdissa (Ethiopia) will continue his mandate, now as a Vice-Chair. Dr Marta Norton (Portugal) will also continue her mandate for another term.
The Association also extends its sincere appreciation to its outgoing Board members: Prof. Henning Gädeke (Germany), Ms Glaudina Looks (South Africa), Dr Sam Okware (Uganda) and Dr Eric D’Ortenzio (France).
For more information, please visit the Board of the EDCTP Association page on our website.
Additional details about membership, decision-making, and the Board’s management responsibilities can be found in Articles 15-19 of the EDCTP Articles of Association.
About the EDCTP Association
The European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) Association is an equitable Europe–Africa partnership dedicated to combating poverty-related and emerging infectious diseases. Bringing together 16 European and 33 African countries, the Association serves as a focal point for coordinated research efforts that address some of the most pressing health challenges in sub-Saharan Africa.
Through the EDCTP programmes and broader partnerships, it fosters collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and sustained investment in global health research for the benefit of communities across Africa and beyond.
The Association acts as the legal entity responsible for implementing the second EDCTP programme (EDCTP2, 2014–2024) and co-governs, together with the European Union (represented by the European Commission), the Global Health EDCTP3 Joint Undertaking (2021–2031).