DNDi Webinar: Operational experience for COVID-19 vaccine trials: Lessons from the field, 17 March 2021
With over 80 COVID-19 vaccine candidates now in phase 1, 2 or 3 clinical trials, social, ethical and political questions continue to emerge. Whilst vaccine trials adhere to bioethics, their everyday ethics are negotiated in the field by frontline workers engaging with communities in specific local contexts. This is especially so when research elicits local concerns that are expressed through rumours, gossip, conspiracy theories and alternative explanatory models. Building good relations between researchers and communities requires engaging with these rumours, as they articulate local interpretations of medical research ethics.
In this webinar, the second in a series on social science research related to vaccine trials, attendees will hear from social science and community engagement experts who will draw on their experiences from clinical trials during COVID-19 and past epidemics. Speakers will share and discuss issues related to everyday ethical and practical challenges in community engagement work.
MODERATOR: Prof. Shelley Lees | London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK
SPEAKERS:
• Mr Mahmood H. Bangura | University of Makeni & EBOVAC-Salone, Sierra Leone
• Ms Noni Mumba | KEMRI - Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kenya
• Dr Malina Osman | Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia
• Mr Benjamin Shukuru Kasiwa | World Vision & Université Libre des Pays des Grands Lacs, Democratic Republic of the Congo
For more information visit: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/3216057251193/WN_aTL854nuT9-jd2ADNO9YcQ
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13Th Edition Of The Edctp Forum To Take Place In Madrid, Spain, From 5 To 9 April 2027
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.
Dr Tuelo Mogashoa Becomes First Tagendi Phd Graduate
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.
More information:
- Dr Tuelo Mogashoa Successfully Defends PhD in TB Genomics
- Tuelo’s journey: building Botswana’s capacity for cutting-edge health research
Prof. Novel Chegou Elected As Fellow Of The African Academy Of Sciences
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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