Addis Ababa, May 2026 – The Clinical Trials in Ethiopia Network (CTN-ET), established to advance, coordinate, and streamline clinical research across the nation, successfully concluded its landmark 2nd Annual Conference.
The high-level gathering served as the Grand Ending of Ethiopia’s inaugural, week-long “Clinical Trials Week” celebration and marked the global commemoration of International Clinical Trials Day (ICTD 2026).
The milestone event brought together a diverse assembly of key stakeholders, policymakers, and international partners. Prominent attendees included representatives from the Ministry of Health (MoH), the Armauer Hansen Research Institute (AHRI), the Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority (EFDA), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), alongside academic scholars from higher education institutions and regional health bureau heads.
Global development partners—including CEPI, PATH, and the International Vaccine Institute (IVI)—commended the significant strides being made in clinical trial operations across global, continental, and national levels. They reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening collaboration, leveraging Ethiopia’s unique regulatory and research strengths to accelerate foundational clinical research and ensure long-term, sustainable partnerships.
In a keynote address delivered on her behalf by Professor Aster Tsegaye, the Minister of Health, Dr. Mekdes Daba, highlighted Africa’s current underrepresentation in global health research:”While Africa accounts for approximately 20% of the world’s population, its contribution to global clinical trials remains disproportionately low.”
Dr. Mekdes emphasized that expanding African participation in clinical trials is not merely a scientific necessity, but a critical matter of health equity, public trust, and national development. She underscored that clinical trials conducted within Ethiopia must remain directly aligned with solving the population’s primary public health challenges.
The Director General of AHRI, Professor Afewerk Kassu, noted that robust Science and Research & Development (R&D) initiatives demand substantial, sustained financial investment. He urged for intensive awareness creation among decision-makers at all leadership levels.
Professor Afewerk also called on the scientific community to accelerate national progress by learning from historical milestones and shortcomings, while advocating for a forward-looking dialogue on integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into clinical trial frameworks.
The conference concluded with a special recognition ceremony celebrating lifelong dedication to medical science. Dr. Abraham Aseffa and Professor Asrat Hailu were honored with Special Recognition and Lifetime Achievement Awards for their monumental, long-standing contributions to the clinical research and research ecosystem in Ethiopia and the wider African continent.
The successful conclusion of the 2nd Annual CTN-ET Conference marks a historical turning point in the collective national effort to build a robust, equitable, and globally competitive clinical trial ecosystem in Ethiopia.