Background
The European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) aims to accelerate the development of new or improved drugs, vaccines, microbicides and diagnostics against HIV, tuberculosis and malaria in sub-Saharan Africa. EDCTP supports multicentre projects that combine clinical trials, capacity building and networking.
Preparations are underway for a proposed second phase of the EDCTP Programme (EDCTP2), which is expected to start in 2014 as part of Horizon 2020, the European Union’s (EU) new funding programme for research and innovation for the period 2014-2020. Horizon 2020 brings together all existing Union research and innovation funding, including the Framework Programme for Research, the innovation-related activities of the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, into a single programme. This funding programme provides for the renewal of the EU’s financial commitment to the EDCTP. Whilst retaining a major focus on HIV, tuberculosis and malaria; phase II and III clinical trials; and sub-Saharan Africa, an expanded scope is proposed for EDCTP2 to include:
- · All clinical trial phases (I-IV) including implementation research on optimisation of health services
- · Neglected Infectious Diseases (NIDs)
- · Closer collaboration with industry, like-minded organisations, product development partners and development agencies
- · Collaborative research with other developing countries outside sub-Saharan Africa when possible and desirable.
