The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating effect worldwide and presents unique challenges to healthcare providers, particularly those working in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC).
Often, in LMICs, disease burden is more significant, outcomes are poorer, and demographic characteristics necessitate region-specific approaches to healthcare organization.
Following severe COVID-19 outbreaks, healthcare systems become overwhelmed and struggle to provide essential levels of care to patients.
To respond effectively to COVID-19 in LMICs, we need to develop new contextualized and locally relevant approaches.
The appropriate diagnosis and clinical management of patients are of utmost importance, and inappropriate treatments should be avoided. Global inequities in vaccine distribution have the potential to worsen the pandemic in LMICs. In many countries, there is no established platform for vaccinating an entire adult population.
Delivering vaccines to essential and front-line workers is achievable, but how do we address accessing vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations?
How can these regional differences in access to medications, health care infrastructure, and public health measures be addressed to combat COVID-19 in LMICs?
To address these challenges and provide a platform for exchanging knowledge, we are pleased to announce our new program, Approaches to Combat COVID-19 in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs).
This exciting workshop will focus on the specific regional challenges for LMICs in the clinical management of COVID-19. Topics of discussion will include how to handle surges, public health, prevention strategies, and focus on vaccines rollout.
Join us virtually on 23 November!
Registration fees are waived for healthcare professionals. For more information on the program and to register for the virtual workshop, please visit our website - https://academicmedicaleducation.com/meeting/approaches-combat-covid-19-LMIC-workshop
We are delighted to announce that the 13th edition of the EDCTP Forum will be celebrated on 5-9 April 2027, at IFEMA Palacio Municipal in Madrid, Spain.
The event will be co-hosted by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) under the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities and the Fundación CSAI (FCSAI) under the Ministry of Health, and is co-organised by Global Health EDCTP3 and the EDCTP Association.
Over the past two decades, the biennial European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) Forum has evolved to become a cornerstone event for global health research, bringing together leading voices advancing the fight against infectious diseases in sub-Saharan Africa. It showcases the latest scientific breakthroughs, highlights impactful capacity-building efforts, and creates a space for vibrant cross-regional collaboration.
The EDCTP Forum 2027 expects to convene 1,500 participants and stakeholders, from researchers, universities and clinicians to governments, regional bodies, civil society, regulators, and public and private R&D partners, drawing participation primarily from Africa and Europe.
Botswana-born scientist Dr Tuelo Mogashoa, a PhD Fellow in the ‘Addressing Gender and Diversity Regional Gaps in Clinical Research Capacity’ (TAGENDI) programme, has successfully defended her PhD in Molecular Biology (Tuberculosis Genomics) at Stellenbosch University. Her virtual oral examination, held on 12 January 2025, marked the culmination of years of research and training.
Her doctoral thesis, titled “Rifampicin- resistant tuberculosis: an emerging threat to human health in Botswana,” addresses one of the most pressing challenges in TB control.
Dr Mogashoa is the first of seven PhD fellows from the inaugural TAGENDI cohort to complete her doctoral studies. The TAGENDI fellowship, implemented under the Trials of Excellence in Southern Africa (TESA) Network, is part of a dedicated PhD fellowship scheme launched by EDCTP2 in 2020 to support women in health research across sub-Saharan Africa. Coordinated by the EDCTP Networks of Excellence, the initiative received funding from the UK National Institute for Health and Care Research (Department of Health and Social Care).
As part of her PhD requirements, Dr Mogashoa was expected to produce four manuscripts, with at least two accepted in peer-reviewed journals. She has exceeded this requirement, publishing three peer-reviewed articles from her doctoral work, with a fourth manuscript currently under review.
Her journey highlights the transformative impact of long-term investment in research training, mentorship, and gender equity. As she moves into the next phase of her career, her work promises to make a meaningful contribution to improving TB diagnosis, treatment, and control.
Prof. Novel Chegou, EDCTP Senior Fellow and Acting Head of the Division of Immunology at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, has been elected as a Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences. This important achievement recognises his scientific leadership and impactful research on tuberculosis, particularly his work on biomarkers to improve diagnosis and patient care in resource-limited settings.
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