Yesterday marked ACRN’s first time attending the SACRA South Africa
SACRA Conference, an important moment as we joined Africa’s clinical research community to connect, learn, and expand partnerships.
Our team – Romina Mariano (Chief of Staff), Wilfred Gurupira (Director of Partnerships), Elmie Steyn (Quality Lead), and Ziphozenkosi Ndlovu (Communications) – had a busy first day engaging with sponsors, regulators, site leaders, and fellow networks. The conversations reinforced the relevance of ACRN’s integrated model of site management, regulatory navigation, digital platforms, and community engagement.
We shared the strength of our operational base, with active presence in Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Rwanda, complemented by growing partnerships across Nigeria, Senegal, Kenya, and Tanzania. The discussions made it clear that expansion across Africa should be a priority, and that Africa Clinical Research Network – ACRN is well positioned to deliver on this ambition.
This aligns with the momentum of our Expression of Interest, which has already attracted nearly 300 site and investigator submissions from across the continent. With many sites bringing strong trial experience, the network we are building offers both geographic reach and therapeutic breadth.
Day 1 at hashtagSACRA2025 set a strong foundation for the days ahead and confirmed that the vision of an Africa-led clinical research platform resonates widely. We look forward to building on these conversations and turning them into partnerships that expand access to medicines across the continent.