The Evidence is In: ClinOps is Strengthening Clinical Research in Africa

We at ClinOps believe deeply in the power of research. The data and insight that emerges from thoughtful, well-restructured research has the power to improve outcomes and impact, whether the goal is to launch a new vaccine, develop a new treatment – or implement a successful a training program.

When I reviewed the results of the study conducted on our 2021 cohort of students, I was heartened to see that the results confirmed what we at ClinOps have believed from the start: that the targeted, practical online training that we’ve developed for clinical research professionals in Africa – one of the first of its kind on the continent – is powerful, effective and sustainable. 

We know that this kind of training is needed now more than ever. Africa’s involvement in clinical trials remains very low – just 2% of the global total. But with a diverse population of 1.5 billion, the continent presents a unique opportunity for the evaluation of medical interventions across a wide spectrum of origins, age groups, genders, and socioeconomic strata. Increasing clinical trials in Africa will also boost health innovations on the continent – and ultimately improve health outcomes. 

The shortage of trained research professionals is a major barrier to expanding clinical trial research that reflects Africa’s diversity – and meets its healthcare needs. 

That’s where ClinOps comes in. Together with our partners, we’ve developed one of the first programs of its kind in Africa: a competency-based, 10-week program designed specifically to strengthen the practical, operational skills of clinical trial professionals – adapted specifically to local contexts.

To assess the impact of our work, we collaborated with researchers and training professionals from Britain, Ethiopia, Ireland, South Africa, Switzerland, and the United States to design and run a study to evaluate the effectiveness of the ClinOps approach. 

The resulting research analysis reveals that the ClinOps training program significantly improves the ability of African clinical study coordinators to design, conduct, manage, and report on their clinical trials.

Here are some highlights: 

• Over the analysis period — November 2021 to November 2022 — ClinOps trained 88 participants from 19 African countries.

• We achieved a 81% course completion rate in 2021/22. In 2023, this went up to 92%. 

• 97% of those who finished the course also completed the post-course assessment.

• Participants showed strong improvements in clinical trial skills, confidence, and leadership.

We also got some great feedback: 

“The best thing about this course was that not only content was good but also moderators and other participants were committed to sharing experiences, and much more,” one respondent shared. “Being a part of this course was a great opportunity for me and I would love to get another chance if there is another opportunity.”

The analysis also showed that it’s possible to transfer clinical training knowledge from global partners to African institutions. In this case, knowledge partners in Ireland helped to co-develop training materials that were then passed along to partners in Ethiopia, who are now equipped to take the process forward themselves – ensuring the course’s sustainability. 

The analysis underpins the power of tailored, competency-based training in strengthening Africa’s clinical research landscape. By equipping professionals with the right skills, we’re hopeful we can increase Africa’s role in clinical trials and improve healthcare innovations across the continent.

We’re excited and motivated by these results. We’ve just kicked off a new cohort this May, and we’re looking forward to spreading our work – and our impact – across the African continent.