WHO Launches Global Clinical Trials Forum to Strengthen Research Standards

The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially launched the Global Clinical Trials Forum (GCTF) — a groundbreaking, multi-stakeholder platform designed to transform the way clinical trials are conducted and coordinated worldwide. The initiative aims to strengthen national and regional research ecosystems, enhance ethical and regulatory oversight, and ensure equitable access to evidence-based health innovations.

A Landmark Step for Global Health Research

The establishment of the GCTF fulfills the mandate of World Health Assembly Resolution WHA75.8, adopted in 2022, which called upon WHO to improve the quality, coordination, and transparency of clinical trials. The resolution was born out of lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, when fragmented and uncoordinated trials often delayed access to crucial data and life-saving interventions.

In announcing the Forum, WHO officials described it as a “major milestone toward a fairer, more connected, and more capable global clinical trial ecosystem,” ensuring that every country — regardless of income level — has the capacity to generate reliable, high-quality evidence to guide health policy and practice.

Guided by WHO’s Best Practices and Global Action Plan

The GCTF is built upon two key WHO frameworks:

1. WHO Guidance for Best Practices for Clinical Trials – a set of principles and actions to improve the design, conduct, oversight, and utilization of clinical trials.

2. Global Action Plan for Clinical Trial Ecosystem Strengthening (GAP-CTS) – which translates those principles into nine priority action areas, addressing systemic challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, ethical oversight, funding gaps, and inequitable access to research opportunities.

Through these frameworks, the Forum aims to standardize global trial quality, promote the sharing of best practices, and ensure that research outcomes benefit all populations, especially those in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where access to clinical research remains limited.

A Global Network of Collaboration and Capacity-Building

The GCTF brings together a broad coalition of governments, regulators, academic institutions, civil society, industry representatives, and patient advocacy groups, creating a dynamic space for collaboration and knowledge exchange.

Members will participate in thematic working groups to:

• Advance implementation of best practices across research systems;

• Enhance clinical trial readiness and integration within national health systems;

• Strengthen ethics and regulatory capacity;

• Promote inclusive, equitable, and sustainable evidence generation.

WHO underscored that the GCTF is not merely a discussion forum but a practical mechanism to translate policies into action, with clear accountability for members and measurable outcomes in trial quality, transparency, and accessibility.

Founding Members: A Global Cross-Section of Expertise

The Forum’s initial members include more than two dozen globally recognized organizations and institutions representing diverse regions and specializations. Among them are:

• AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition (AVAC)

• Christian Medical College, Vellore

• Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)

• Cochrane Collaboration

• European Clinical Research Infrastructure Network (ECRIN)

• Egyptian Drug Authority

• Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)

• International Vaccine Institute (IVI)

• Malaysia Institute of Clinical Research

• Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV)

• National Institute for Health and Care Research (UK)

• PATH

• Singapore Clinical Research Institute

• South Africa Medical Research Council

• The George Institute for Global Health

• University of Oxford

• The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations (IFPMA)

This diverse membership highlights the GCTF’s commitment to fostering inclusive global collaboration and bridging the gap between research environments in high-income and developing nations.

A Platform for Shared Learning and Equity

By creating a structured forum for dialogue and collaboration, the GCTF aims to reduce duplication, promote transparency, and accelerate the generation of high-quality evidence that can inform equitable health decisions worldwide.

The Forum will also promote community and patient engagement in research processes, ensuring that clinical trials are not only scientifically robust but also socially and ethically grounded.

As part of its capacity-building mission, the GCTF will encourage the adoption of WHO’s standards and guidelines across national regulatory systems and academic institutions, while offering training, mentorship, and technical support to emerging research centers.

Looking Ahead: Shaping the Future of Clinical Trials

The launch of the Global Clinical Trials Forum represents a decisive step toward harmonizing global research standards and ensuring that the benefits of scientific progress are shared equitably. WHO envisions the GCTF as a permanent mechanism for advancing clinical trial excellence — one that enhances preparedness for future pandemics, accelerates medical innovation, and builds trust in science.

Membership in the Forum is open to organizations committed to implementing the WHA75.8 resolution and WHO’s clinical trial guidance. Participants gain access to a growing network of international experts, collaborative research opportunities, and a direct voice in shaping the future of global clinical research governance.

As WHO officials emphasized at the launch, “Strong, ethical, and inclusive clinical trials are the foundation of effective health policy. The Global Clinical Trials Forum is our collective investment in a healthier, more equitable future.”