The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched the Global Clinical Trials Forum (GCTF), a worldwide multi-stakeholder network designed to strengthen clinical trial environments and infrastructure at national, regional, and global levels. The Forum responds to World Health Assembly resolution WHA75.8, which urged WHO to enhance the quality and coordination of clinical trials to generate robust evidence for health decision-making. The GCTF supports the implementation of WHO’s Guidance for Best Practices for Clinical Trials, outlining principles and actions to improve trial design, conduct, oversight, and utilization, and is guided by the Global Action Plan for Clinical Trial Ecosystem Strengthening (GAP-CTS), which identifies nine priority action areas to address existing barriers in clinical trial systems.
By connecting diverse stakeholders—including Member States, regulators, ethics authorities, funders, researchers, civil society, and patient/community engagement organizations—the GCTF provides a collaborative platform for disseminating WHO guidance, promoting the adoption of standards, and sharing knowledge to build capacity for inclusive, ethical, and impactful clinical trials. Members can participate in thematic working groups focused on advancing best practice implementation, improving clinical trial readiness within health systems, and ensuring equitable and sustainable evidence generation.
The Forum’s launch members include a wide range of influential organizations and institutions such as the AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition, Cochrane Collaboration, European Clinical Research Infrastructure Network, Indian Council of Medical Research, International Vaccine Institute, Medicines for Malaria Venture, National Institute for Health and Care Research (UK), PATH, Singapore Clinical Research Institute, South Africa Medical Research Council, University of Oxford, and many others. Their participation underscores the Forum’s commitment to fostering global collaboration and sharing expertise across research, regulatory, and patient advocacy sectors.
The Global Clinical Trials Forum represents a major step toward ensuring that all countries have the capacity to generate reliable, high-quality evidence to guide health policy and practice. Membership is open to eligible stakeholder organizations committed to implementing WHA75.8 and WHO’s Guidance for Best Practices for Clinical Trials. Members benefit from opportunities to collaborate with global experts, contribute to key initiatives, and help shape the future of clinical trial ecosystems worldwide.
