The aim of this programme is to enhance research capacity and accelerate the development of new or improved medical interventions for the identification, treatment and prevention of poverty-related infectious diseases. This includes emerging and re-emerging diseases in sub-Saharan Africa.
The European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) is a public partnership between institutions mandated by national governments in Europe and sub-Saharan Africa, and supported by the EU.
The UK partners are the Medical Research Council (MRC), and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).
A second phase of the EDCTP was launched in 2014 as part of Horizon 2020, the EU framework programme for research and innovation 2014 to 2020. Member states and the European Commission, together with partner states in sub-Saharan Africa, developed a 10-year programme focused on late phase (phase three) intervention studies on products against HIV, tuberculosis and malaria. This also extended into neglected tropical diseases and post-efficacy phase four studies including health systems optimisation.
All funding awards made by Medical Research Council (MRC) within the scope of EDCTP2 between 2014 and 2020 formed part of the UK contribution to the EDCTP2 programme supported by the EU.