Accra:The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) has announced a commitment of up to $8.2 million in additional funding to bolster clinical trial readiness in West Africa.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the funding is intended to support the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC)’s hub-and-spoke clinical trial model. This initiative, facilitated through the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) and the Medical Research Council Unit in The Gambia, was revealed at an event in Accra on October 22.
The model is designed to link experienced clinical trial centers with locations closer to areas prone to outbreaks, with the goal of accelerating the generation of clinical evidence during epidemics and pandemics. Initially focusing on West Africa, the plan aims to expand to other regions across the continent.
CEPI emphasized that the Africa CDC’s model aims to enhance collaboration among clinical trial sites and ensure the rapid activation of research capacity during outbreaks. Improved coordination across countries is expected to lead to more efficient and standardized generation of clinical evidence when new disease threats arise.
CEPI’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Richard Hatchett, highlighted the importance of reinforcing clinical trial systems in regions susceptible to outbreaks to promptly generate necessary evidence when new threats emerge. Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director-General of Africa CDC, underscored the significance of African health sovereignty, stating that generating evidence on African soil for African people is crucial.
The funding increases CEPI’s total commitment to its Research Preparedness Programme to $28.8 million. This programme is part of CEPI’s contribution to the 100 Days Mission, which aims to develop vaccines within 100 days of identifying a new pandemic threat. Dr. Jerome Kim, Director-General of IVI, and Prof. Ed Clarke, Director of the MRC Unit in The Gambia, both stressed the importance of sustained investment and partnerships in research systems to ensure effective preparedness for future health emergencies.
CEPI noted that the programme’s capabilities will support vaccine, diagnostic, and therapeutic studies, with a commitment to open-access principles for research data and results.