South Africa selected to host EDCTP Africa branch office
The South African Medical Research Council (MRC) in Cape Town has been selected by the Assembly of the European and developing countries clinical trials programme (EDCTP) to host its Africa branch office, it was announced on 5 April. The office will represent the EDCTP in Africa and provide executive, administrative and promotional support for the programme. With the addition of the Cape Town branch the EDCTP now has two offices, along with one in The Hague, hosted by the Netherlands organisation for scientific research. 'The choice of the host institution was based on a careful selection process,' said Dr Pascaal Manuel Mocumbi, High Representative of the EDCTP and former Prime Minister of Mozambique. 'In a competitive bidding to host the African branch office of the EDCTP Secretariat, the selection committee received and carefully evaluated numerous highly qualified applications.' Three applications were shortlisted for site assessments, and after on-site visits, the ranking was finalised and a recommendation for a final decision made. Professor Emeritus Pick, acting President of the South African MRC, said: 'It is a great honour for South Africa and the MRC. We are particularly pleased as the decision of the Assembly reinforces the MRC's position as a leader in health research.' The MRC will provide the necessary structure and services for the EDCTP Africa branch office to function, but it will be considered exactly like any other institution when it comes to competing for funding and collaboration, explained EDCTP Executive Director Dr Piero Olliaro. 'We aim for the office to start operating in the second quarter of this year,' he added. On 5 April, the EDCTP also published a call for tender aimed at selecting an institution, organisation or individual capable of establishing and maintaining a registry of clinical trials for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
Kraje
South Africa