WHO has launched a new free online course, WHO Good Practices for Clinical Trial Design and Implementation, to strengthen the quality and equity of clinical trials worldwide. Available on the WHO Academy platform, the self‑paced course translates WHO’s 2024 guidance into practical learning for researchers and institutions, responding to Member States’ requests to build stronger trial capacity and preparedness for public health emergencies.
The course emphasizes that well‑designed trials are fundamental to protecting participants, producing trustworthy evidence, and reinforcing public confidence in science. It covers a wide range of health interventions beyond medicines, including vaccines, devices, diagnostics, nutrition, psychological support, digital health tools, and traditional remedies.
Recent breakthroughs in HIV prevention, cancer therapies, malaria treatment, and TB diagnostics highlight the critical role of high‑quality trials. WHO leaders stressed that strengthening equitable research and ethics ecosystems is especially important in developing countries, where the need for reliable evidence is greatest.
Structured around five scientific and ethical principles, the nine interactive modules—taking about 4.5 hours to complete—address real‑world challenges in trial design, conduct, and oversight. Topics include participant protection, ethical review, community engagement, operational feasibility, and relevance to public health needs. Early participants praised the course’s practical case studies and interactive format, noting its value in bridging ethical theory with operational realities.
Currently available in English, the course will be expanded into other languages in the coming years. By making it freely accessible, WHO aims to reduce barriers to clinical trial education and help countries build sustainable research capacity aligned with national and global health priorities.
