Regulatory Science in Africa: Quiet Progress, Emerging Strength
When we discuss the advancement of clinical trials in Africa, the conversation often gravitates toward infrastructure: genomic sequencing capacity, biobanking facilities, or electronic data capture systems. While these physical assets are vital, there is an equally...
From Capacity Building to Capability Transfer: Rethinking Donor and Industry Investment
Global health rhetoric is rich with good intentions. Few terms have been as enduring or as poorly interrogated, as “capacity building”. For decades, it has served as a justification for donor spending, a line item in pharmaceutical industry corporate...
AI in Drug Development: Global Standards Emerge, Africa Must not Be Left Behind
On January 14, 2026, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) jointly released ten guiding principles for Good AI Practice (GAIP) in drug development (1). This landmark collaboration signals that artificial...
The Future of Drug Development Could Be Built in Africa
What if clinical trials were no longer the bottleneck of drug development? For decades, innovation has followed a familiar trajectory. Discovery has advanced rapidly within highly specialized research environments. Development has proceeded through increasingly...
Africa’s Competitiveness in Clinical Trials: Myths, Data, and What Sponsors Miss
For decades, segments of the global pharmaceutical industry have approached Africa with hesitation. The dominant narrative has framed the continent as a “challenging frontier”—a region burdened by logistical constraints, uneven infrastructure, and opaque...
Introducing the ACRN Podcast: Amplifying Africa’s Voice in Clinical Research
Welcome to the ACRN Podcast, your go-to source for African clinical research, health innovation, and science leadership. Each episode of the ACRN Podcast features expert voices driving African-led clinical trials and global health progress. Why Listen to the ACRN...
AI Is Racing Ahead – Clinical Development is Not. An African Perspective
Last week at Summit for Clinical Operations Executives (SCOPE) (1), the energy around artificial intelligence (AI) was unmistakable. From plenary stages to side conversations, AI was framed as the great accelerant of drug discovery and development. Much of that...
As featured in TIME100 Health 2026
Dr. Tariro Makadzange Named to TIME100 Health 2026 In 2026, TIME named Dr. Tariro Makadzange, Founder and CEO of the Africa Clinical Research Network (ACRN), to the TIME100 Health list—recognizing leaders shaping the future of global health. This acknowledgment...