Core Funders Boost Global Clinical Trials in Medical Research

Some of the world’s largest funders of medical research have today committed, through the signature of a joint statement, to implement WHO standards to strengthen clinical trial systems and ensure that research better serves patients and communities. The statement outlines measures to integrate clinical trials into sustainable national infrastructure, improve trial design, ensure that trial populations are representative, and embed best practices for transparency, data management, and public engagement.

The move builds on the momentum of the recent launch of WHO’s Guidance for Best Practices for Clinical Trials and the Global Action Plan for Clinical Trial Ecosystem Strengthening (GAP-CTS). The statement also refers to the 2017 WHO joint statement on public disclosure of results from clinical trials and the 2023 Global Research Collaboration for Infectious Disease Preparedness (GloPID-R) funders’ roadmap for clinical trial coordination.

Adopted in response to the World Health Assembly resolution on strengthening clinical trials (WHA 75.8), the statement acknowledges the crucial role of funders in creating a clinical trial ecosystem that produces reliable evidence, enhances efficiency, and guarantees equitable access to the benefits of research.

The statement acknowledges the significance of integrating clinical trials into the national health and research framework while aligning them with local priorities. It also emphasizes that funders commit to enhancing existing resources whenever feasible, assisting in building capacity where it is insufficient, and ensuring early engagement with communities and patients. Additionally, those who receive funding for clinical trials will gain direct support to fulfill best-practice requirements, which include data management, involvement of patients and communities, and ensuring that trial populations are representative.

Trials must be well designed, address gaps in evidence, and include the populations most likely to benefit. Applicants will be expected to demonstrate how their proposals involve patients and communities, incorporate diverse participants, and are guided by systematic reviews. Funders will evaluate trial designs to ensure they are suitable, practical, and generalizable, and will require applicants to outline plans for responsible data management and sharing.

Funders also committed to ensuring that trials are conducted to the highest international standards. This includes registering trials in publicly accessible registries, updating results within 12 months of completion, and publishing protocols, statistical analysis plans, and findings in open-access journals. Additionally, funders agreed to encourage timely sharing of interpretable results during public health emergencies and to support data sharing in accordance with international standards.

By aligning policies and practices, research funders aim to establish a more coordinated global trial ecosystem. The commitments made are anticipated to lessen duplication, enhance efficiency in the use of funds, and ensure that clinical evidence more accurately represents the needs of diverse populations. Additionally, they address the ethical imperative for transparency, which aids in building trust among trial participants and the public.

Within six months, the signatories will create a set of high-level, measurable indicators to monitor collective progress. These indicators will assist in evaluating the extent to which funders are fulfilling their commitments and will establish a framework for accountability across the research community.

Pr. Steve Wesselingh, Chief Executive Officer, Australia National Health and Medical Research Council: "To ensure NHMRC remains a world leader in clinical trials, we are committed to collaborating with our global health and medical research funders to implement agreed-upon standards that will enhance the clinical trial operating environment, ensuring a more robust, consistent, and efficient international approach to best practices for clinical trials."

Dr. Pramod Joshi, Executive Chief-Member Secretary, Nepal Health Research Council: "Nepal is committed to strengthening collaboration in health research. By working together across countries, we can address shared challenges more effectively and ensure that research translates into meaningful improvements in public health. In line with the new WHO guidelines, we are also prioritizing the development of a robust clinical trial ecosystem that upholds the highest standards of ethics, quality, and transparency."

Prof Ntobeko Ntusi, President and CEO, South African Medical Research Council stated, 'On behalf of the SAMRC, we are honored to be a signatory to this important statement. Our organization is committed to ensuring that trials conducted in our region are registered in the PACTR and SANCTR Clinical Trial Registries. This strengthens transparency and accountability in clinical research. A well-coordinated clinical trial ecosystem is vital to the health system, as it accelerates innovation, supports evidence-based policy, strengthens regulatory decision-making, and ensures equitable access to safe and effective interventions for all populations.'

Dr. John-Arne Rottingen, Chief Executive of Wellcome, stated, 'Clinical trials are a critical part of getting interventions and products to the people that need them most, as well as increasing our understanding of health conditions and diseases. Without representation and engagement with the communities affected, the products and policies resulting from clinical trials risk deepening disparities. As global health funders, we must support efforts to build sustainable clinical trial capabilities rooted in evidence-based best practice, which meets local needs within existing health systems. To truly achieve health equity and have the most impact, trials must be well-designed and reflect the diversity and context of the communities they aim to benefit.'

Dr. Paul Hébert, President of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, stated, 'Patient and community involvement is essential to building trust and ensuring that clinical trials are impactful and reflect the needs of those they serve, while transparency helps us reduce research waste. CIHR is pleased to be part of this joint commitment to promote clinical trial best practices alongside valued research funding partners.'

Pr. Didier Samuel, Chairman and CEO of the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm), stated, 'Inserm is proud to endorse the 2025 Joint Statement on Strengthening Clinical Trials as a clear policy commitment to coordinated, sustainable trial ecosystems that align with national priorities and global standards. By embedding WHO’s best practices into funding policies—supporting robust design, inclusive participation, transparent reporting, and accountable data sharing—we can drive systemic improvements that make clinical research more effective, equitable, and responsive to public health needs.'

Pr. Yazdan Yazdanpanah, Director of ANRS Emerging Infectious Disease, Inserm, stated, 'Clinical trials are essential for identifying effective innovations in prevention and care and for implementing efficient interventions that enhance the health of patients and communities. ANRS Emerging Infectious Disease, as an international funder, is honored to be a signatory of this important statement and to support initiatives for clinical trials that align with national and regional priorities, adhere to best practice standards, ensure equitable access to effective interventions, and are conducted through an international approach.'

Dr. Michael Makanga, Executive Director of Global Health EDCTP3, stated, 'Strengthening the clinical trials ecosystem is a shared priority for Europe and Africa. As one of the major funders of cross-continental clinical research, Global Health EDCTP3 fully supports WHO’s call to enhance trial design and implementation, integrate trials within national health systems, prioritize unmet medical needs and populations, and ensure meaningful patient and community involvement—all essential components for improving public health outcomes and increasing rigor and trust in clinical trials.'