WHO launches the Global Clinical Trials Forum

WHO has today launched the Global Clinical Trials Forum (GCTF), a global, multi-stakeholder network to strengthen clinical trial environments and infrastructure at national, regional and global levels. The Forum responds to World Health Assembly resolution WHA75.8, which called on WHO to improve the quality and coordination of clinical trials to generate high-quality evidence for health decision-making.

The GCTF supports the implementation of WHO's Guidance for Best Practices for Clinical Trials, which sets out principles and actions to improve the design, conduct, oversight and use of trials. It is further guided by the Global Action Plan for Clinical Trial Ecosystem Strengthening (GAP-CTS), which translates the guidance into nine priority action areas addressing barriers across current clinical trial ecosystems.

By connecting diverse stakeholders including Member States, regulators, ethics authorities, funders, researchers, civil society and patient/community engagement organizations, the GCTF provides a collaborative platform for members to disseminate WHO guidance and best practices, engage and advocate with stakeholders to promote adoption of standards, and share knowledge to strengthen capacity and advance inclusive, ethical and impactful clinical trials.

Members have the opportunity to engage in thematic working groups to:

• advance implementation of best practices;
• improve clinical trial readiness in health systems; and
• ensure that evidence generation is equitable and sustainable.

Launch members include:

• AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition
• Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) Society for Medical Education (St. John's Medical College)
• Christian Medical College Vellore
• Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations
• Cochrane Collaboration
• Egyptian Drug Authority
• European Clinical Research Infrastructure Network
• European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer
• Health Research Authority (UK)
• Indian Council of Medical Research
• Indonesia Clinical Research Center
• International Vaccine Institute
• Malaysia Institute of Clinical Research
• McMaster University
• Medicines for Malaria Venture
• National Institute for Health and Care Research (UK)
• National University of Singapore
• Nepal Health Research Council
• PATH
• Quality by Randomization Limited (Protas)
• Singapore Clinical Research Institute
• South Africa Medical Research Council
• The European Patients' Academy for Therapeutic Innovation
• The George Institute for Global Health
• The Global Health Network
• The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations
• University of Oxford

The Global Clinical Trials Forum represents a significant step towards ensuring that all countries have the capacity to generate reliable evidence to guide health policy and practice.

Membership of the Forum is open to eligible stakeholder organizations committed to implementing WHA75.8 and WHO's Guidance for Best Practices for Clinical Trials. Members gain opportunities to collaborate with global experts, contribute to key initiatives, and take part in shaping the future of clinical trial ecosystems.