We enable knowledge exchange through the transparent sharing of trial methods and data standards to improve reproducibility and speed up multicentre studies and by facilitating training and mentoring for researchers across Africa through fellowships, placements, seminars and short courses.

Our collaboration network

1. Product‑development & industry partners
We work with leading global pharmaceutical and biotechnology sponsors to deliver high-quality clinical trials across our sites. While direct access to these sponsors depends on specific project agreements, all researchers conducting trials through the Platform benefit from:

• Access to tried-and-tested regulatory and QA systems,
• Institutional readiness for a wide range of trial types
• Experienced clinical and operational teams trained to meet sponsor expectations.

Our track record with industry-funded studies ensures that the Platform is equipped to support complex study protocols, manage investigational products, and meet international timelines and reporting requirements.

Current Industry partners include: Johnson & Johnson | ViiV Healthcare | BioNTech SE | Novartis | Gilead Sciences | Merck|Serum Institute of India Pvt Ltd

2. Academic & Research Institutions
Through joint protocols, shared laboratory infrastructure, and reciprocal secondments, our partners help us conduct complex trials across diverse settings. Investigators collaborating with the Platform benefit from access to this collaborative network, enabling co‑supervision of students, shared data resources, and multi‑site enrolment.

Current academic and research institutional partners include: Makerere University | Mbarara University of Science and Technology | Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences | Mwanza Intervention Trials Unit | South African Medical Research Council | Africa Health Research Institute | University of Oxford | Imperial College London | King’s College London | Medical Research Council Clinical Trials Unit at University College London|University of Nairobi |Desmond and Tutu Health Foundation |Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa

3. Training & Capacity‑Building Collaborations
These create a pipeline of African investigators skilled in trial methodology, data management, and ethics. Partners benefit by gaining trained personnel who can accelerate project start‑up and uphold international quality standards.

Current partners include: 

• CREATIVE Fellowship (EDCTP) – Clinical research training with industry involvement
• COMPASS Programme (EDCTP & NIHR) – Scholarships for MSc Clinical Trials and Epidemiology at LSHTM
• Teaching and student support – Platform staff teach on the LSHTM MSc Clinical Trials (Distance Learning) programme, supervise PhD students, and host field placements for MSc and PhD students

Community Engagement
The Platform builds on the Unit’s longstanding expertise in community engagement to ensure that clinical trials are not only scientifically rigorous, but also socially responsive ,ethically grounded and involve patients and the public (PPI). Dedicated community engagement teams embedded at each Unit research site lead stakeholder mapping, community entry, sensitization, and ongoing feedback processes. Established Community Advisory Boards (CABs) provide input on study design, recruitment strategies, informed consent, and results dissemination. Strong partnerships with local health facilities and political leadership further align studies with health system needs and enable long-term collaboration.

For Platform users, this means access to proven engagement frameworks, experienced personnel, and robust infrastructure for building and sustaining meaningful community relationships.

If you would like to leverage any aspect of our network, be it trial partnerships, training opportunities, or policy engagement, please contact [email protected].