The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially launched the Global Clinical Trials Forum (GCTF), a groundbreaking, multi-stakeholder network designed to strengthen clinical trial environments and infrastructure at national, regional, and global levels. This initiative directly responds to World Health Assembly resolution WHA75.8, which called on WHO to improve the quality and coordination of clinical trials to generate robust evidence for health decision-making.

The GCTF is built on WHO's Guidance for Best Practices for Clinical Trials, a comprehensive framework outlining principles and actions to enhance the design, conduct, oversight, and application of clinical trials worldwide. Complementing this is the Global Action Plan for Clinical Trial Ecosystem Strengthening (GAP-CTS), which translates the guidance into nine priority action areas aimed at overcoming barriers in existing clinical trial systems.

At its core, the GCTF serves as a collaborative platform connecting diverse stakeholders—including Member States, regulatory bodies, ethics committees, funders, researchers, civil society, and patient/community organizations. Through this network, members can:

• Disseminate WHO guidance and best practices,

• Advocate for global standards,

• Share knowledge, and

• Build capacity for inclusive, ethical, and impactful clinical trials.

Members gain access to thematic working groups focused on implementing best practices, enhancing health system readiness, and ensuring equitable and sustainable evidence generation. The GCTF’s launch marks a pivotal step toward enabling all countries to produce reliable evidence to inform effective health policy and practice.

Launch Members

A diverse group of leading organizations joined at launch, including:

• AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition

• Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) Society for Medical Education (St. John’s Medical College)

• Christian Medical College Vellore

• Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations

• Cochrane Collaboration

• Egyptian Drug Authority

• European Clinical Research Infrastructure Network

• European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer

• Health Research Authority (UK)

• Indian Council of Medical Research

• Indonesia Clinical Research Center

• International Vaccine Institute

• Malaysia Institute of Clinical Research

• McMaster University

• Medicines for Malaria Venture

• National Institute for Health and Care Research (UK)

• National University of Singapore

• Nepal Health Research Council

• PATH

• Quality by Randomization Limited (Protas)

• Singapore Clinical Research Institute

• South Africa Medical Research Council

• The European Patients' Academy for Therapeutic Innovation

• The George Institute for Global Health

• The Global Health Network

• The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations

• University of Oxford

Membership is open to eligible organizations committed to WHA75.8 and WHO’s best practices. Members collaborate with global experts, contribute to transformative initiatives, and help shape the future of clinical trial ecosystems worldwide.