Pan-African Clinical Trials Registry

Aim of the registry

The Pan African Clinical Trials Registry (PACTR) is the first WHO recognised clinical trials registry in Africa. PACTR aims to be a comprehensive database of planned, on going or completed clinical trials in Africa.

It provides accessible information that describes the scope, location, ethics and funding patterns of trials conducted across Africa.

The PACTR registry facilitates understanding of regional research patterns, enables the identification of research gaps for future studies, and facilitates the investigation of the scope, quality and funding patterns of African trials.

Registration data in the PACTR portal (https://pactr.samrc.ac.za) meet the requirements of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) and feed into the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP).

Trials may be registered online, via email, facsimile or postal mail. Trial registration is free.

For more information on how to register a trial, please consult the PACTR website or contact them at pactradmin@mrc.ac.za.

History of PACTR

In 2006, EDCTP established the HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB), and Malaria (ATM) Clinical Trials Registry, which was operated by the Cochrane Centre at the Medical Research Council in Cape Town, South Africa. Its aim was to increase the prospective registration of clinical trials for HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria in Africa.

The ATM Clinical Trials Registry became the Pan African Clinical Trials Registry (PACTR) in June 2008, following requests from WHO and the African Vaccine Regulatory Forum (AVAREF). The aim was to register all randomised controlled and controlled clinical trials conducted in Africa regardless of disease.

In September 2009, PACTR was officially recognised as a WHO Primary Registry. To date, PACTR remains the only WHO-endorsed primary registry in Africa.