The second programme of the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP2) was launched this week in Cape Town, South Africa.
EDCTP2 is a 1.4 billion euro research, clinical trials and capacity development initiative to tackle poverty-related diseases, that focuses on creating equitable partnerships between developed and developing countries, with local ownership of demand-driven research.
Professor Zumla, Professor of Infectious Diseases and International Health at UCL and a BRC-supported researcher, is vice chair of the Strategic Advisory Committee for the EDCTP2 programme. He said: ‘This initiative is an exciting milestone in Europe-Africa research collaborations’. ‘The huge investment far surpasses any current research funder investments in Africa and I can foresee some very important research and capacity development outputs arising from the next decade of EDCTP2 activities. It will no doubt facilitate advances to be made in controlling global killer infectious diseases.’
Writing in the Lancet to highlight the launch, Professor Zumla and co-authors say EDCTP2 allows effective networking of research and capacity development activities focussed on Malaria, Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, Neglected Infectious Diseases (NIDs), and other emerging infectious diseases threats such as Ebola.
Professor Zumla said: ‘EDCTP2 represents a genuine equitable partnership between developed and developing countries and is a major game changer moving away from current domination of research by western countries in developing countries. The active involvement and contribution of African countries will ensure unity of purpose and joint ownership of the EDCTP2 programme with European counterparts.’
