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UNGA81 Science Summit

Global Health EDCTP3 will host a high-level session at the Science Summit 2026, held alongside the 81st UN General Assembly (UNGA81), in New York, USA, under the title 'Advancing science: shaping clinical research across Africa and beyond'.

  • Conferences and summits

This session will explore how strengthening clinical trial networks, research infrastructure, and regulatory and ethical systems can accelerate high-quality clinical research across Africa. Through case studies from Global Health EDCTP3-funded projects, speakers will showcase innovative, resource-efficient approaches to capacity strengthening, ethical oversight, research leadership and international collaboration that are delivering tangible impact across the continent.

The event will conclude with a high-level panel discussion on the future of global clinical research beyond 2030, bringing together leaders from African and international institutions to discuss the investments, partnerships and policies needed to build resilient research ecosystems, strengthen Global South leadership, and enhance global preparedness for future health challenges.

  • public health | Africa-EU partnership | medical science | scientific research
  • Tuesday 22 September 2026, 11:00 - 13:30 (EDT)
  • New York, United States

Programme

  1. 22 Sep 2026, 11:00 - 13:30 (EDT)
    Advancing science: Shaping clinical research across Africa and beyond

    11:00-11:15

    Welcome and introduction - EDCTP: Two Decades of Advancing African Clinical Research

    • Dr Michael Makanga, Executive Director, Global Health EDCTP3

    11:15-11:25

    Global Health EDCTP3 case study 1 - eWHORM

    Assessing the efficacy of new therapeutics against multiple parasitic worm infections.

    • Professor Achim Hoerauf, Director (IMMIP, UKB) (Project Coordinator)

    11:25-11:35

    Global Health EDCTP3 case study 2 - CT-Luso

    Strengthening the ethical review and regulatory capacity for clinical research across Portuguese-speaking African countries.

    • Professor Maria do Céu Patrão Neves, Portuguese National Council of Ethics (Project Coordinators) (TBC)
    • Professor Esperança Sevene, Eduardo Mondlane University (Scientific Coordinator)

    11:35-11:45

    Global Health EDCTP3 case study 3 - WANETAM-4

    Building on over two decades of EDCTP support to strengthen clinical research sites, train the next generation of African research leaders, and enhance preparedness for infectious disease outbreaks across 12 West African countries.

    • Professor Assan Jaye,  MRC Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (Coordinator WANETAM-4 Consortium and Scientific Leadership)
    • Professor Dorothy Yeboah-Manu, University of Ghana, EDCTP Senior Fellow

    11:45-11:55

    Global Health EDCTP3 case study 4 - SOFAR

    Building research capacity in Southern Africa through fellowships, supervisor training, digital learning and placements with WHO, Africa CDC and ministries of health.

    • Professor Katharina Kranzer, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU); Director, THRU-Zim, Biomedical Research and Training Institute (BRTI)

    12:00-13:15

    Panel discussion - Global Health and Clinical Trials after 2030: What research infrastructure is needed for Africa and the World? 

    • Maria Pilar Aguar Fernandez, Director, RTD, European Commission
    • Richard Hatchett, CEO, CEPI, United Kingdom 
    • Jennifer Dent, CEO, BVGH, USA
    • Mark Feinberg, CEO, IAVI, United States (TBC) 
    • Delese Mimi Darko, Director General, AMA, Rwanda (TBC) 
    • Ntobeko Ntusi, CEO, SAMRC, South Africa 

    13:15-13:30

    Concluding remarks from the Chair

Practical information

When
Tuesday 22 September 2026, 11:00 - 13:30 (EDT)
Where
Cure
345 Park Avenue South, New York, NY, United States
Languages
English
Website
UNGA81 Science Summit 2026