EACCR Stakeholders Meet in Nairobi to Map Next Phase of Clinical Research

The East African Consortium for Clinical Research (EACCR) has convened its annual stakeholders’ meeting in Nairobi to take stock of achievements from Phase III and chart the roadmap for Phase IV.

The three-day forum, hosted by the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) from 18th to 20th August 2025, has brought together more than 25 consortium members, drawn from various Institutions across the region’s health and medical research sectors.

This year’s meeting carries added significance as it coincides with the consortium’s 15th anniversary. Since its inception in 2009 under EACCR I, the consortium has worked to build regional capacity for world-class health research, with a focus on clinical trials addressing poverty-related diseases such as HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria, as well as neglected, emerging, and re-emerging infectious diseases.

Opening the meeting, KEMRI’s Acting Director of Research and Development, Dr. Erick Muok, commended the consortium’s progress in fostering cross-border scientific collaboration and training. He emphasized that the next phase will be critical in consolidating gains made in research infrastructure, clinical trial capacity, and regional partnerships.

Over the years, EACCR has played a central role in positioning East Africa as a hub for health research by promoting joint projects, standardizing practices, and strengthening networks among scientists, policymakers, and healthcare institutions. The consortium has also been instrumental in supporting young researchers through training, mentorship, and access to multi-country research platforms.

 As the stakeholders deliberate on priorities for Phase IV, discussions are expected to focus on sustainability, funding strategies, and scaling up research outputs to directly impact healthcare delivery and policy across the region.

The Nairobi meeting is also seen as an opportunity to reaffirm the consortium’s commitment to tackling the continent’s most pressing health challenges through regional solidarity and shared expertise.