//What we fund

What we fund

The EDCTP2 programme supports clinical research, research capacity development and international networking in order to accelerate the clinical development of effective, safe, accessible, suitable and affordable medical interventions for poverty-related infectious diseases affecting sub-Saharan Africa.

Target diseases

EDCTP supports clinical research and clinical trials on HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, neglected infectious diseases, diarrhoeal diseases, lower respiratory tract infections, and emerging and re-emerging infections of particular relevance to sub-Saharan Africa, such as Ebola, COVID-19, yellow fever and Lassa fever.

Neglected infectious diseases in the scope of EDCTP2*

Buruli ulcer, dengue, dracunculiasis (guinea-worm disease), echinococcosis, foodborne trematodiases, human African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness), leishmaniasis, leprosy (Hansen’s disease), lymphatic filariasis, mycetoma, onchocerciasis (river blindness), rabies, schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminthiases, taeniasis/cysticercosis, trachoma, yaws (endemic treponematoses)

* Based on the WHO list of neglected tropical diseases 2017; Chagas disease, chikungunya, chromoblastomycosis and other deep mycoses, scabies and other ectoparasites, and snakebite envenoming are currently not in the EDCTP scope.

Medical interventions

EDCTP supports clinical studies and trials of new or improved medical interventions designed to detect, prevent or treat target diseases. These include drugs and drug regimens for prevention and treatment, microbicides, vaccines (preventive and therapeutic), and diagnostics.

Types of research

EDCTP supports observation and interventional studies, with interventional trials making up the bulk of the EDCTP portfolio. We support phase I–III safety/efficacy studies, with an emphasis on phase II and III trials. We also support phase IV, pharmacovigilance and post-licensing effectiveness studies (pragmatic trials, utility/impact studies), product-focused implementation research and field trials, as well as trials of medical diagnostics to detect and monitor disease.

Capacity development

EDCTP makes an important contribution to the development and strengthening of clinical research capacity in sub-Saharan Africa. EDCTP supports researchers at various career stages, from master’s and PhD training through to senior fellowships. The EDCTP Alumni Network fosters collaboration and networking among past and current fellows, through sharing of experiences and expertise.  EDCTP also supports activities strengthening the ethical, regulatory and legal framework for conducting trials.