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...
Building a Sustainable Research Ecosystem: Global Lessons and Critical Pillars
What does it really take to build a sustainable research ecosystem? Not a grant. Not a building. Not even a world-class principal investigator. Innovation does not happen in isolation; it flourishes in ecosystems. A sustainable research ecosystem is the connected...
Africa Rising in Clinical Research: Insights from ACRN’s 2025 EOI Site Visits
In 2025, the Africa Clinical Research Network (ACRN) embarked on a dynamic journey across the continent—conducting Expression of Interest (EOI) site visits in Nigeria, Mozambique, Ghana, Ethiopia, Uganda, South Africa, Malawi and Kenya. These visits provided a...
Welcome to 2026 from all of us at the Africa Clinical Research Network (ACRN)!
Welcome to 2026 from all of us at the Africa Clinical Research Network (ACRN)! As we begin the new year, we’re reflecting with gratitude on the progress made in 2025 — a year shaped by collaboration, learning, and steady growth across our network. Together with...