€4.75m to answer ‘urgent research questions’ and support humanitarian efforts
An EU-funded programme that supports clinical trials partnerships between Europe and Africa is offering at least €4.75 million for Covid-19 research in sub-Saharan Africa.
The European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership, supported under the EU’s Horizon 2020 R&D programme, opened its call to “address urgent research questions” on Covid-19 on 3 April.
“At this critical time, EDCTP has activated its emergency funding mechanism in view of the rapidly rising numbers of Covid-19 cases being reported from affected countries, including more and more sub-Saharan African countries,” said the partnership’s executive director Michael Makanga.
In addition to addressing urgent research questions, projects should “strengthen national and local research capacity” and promote collaboration with other research and humanitarian activities. Makanga urged EDCTP member states and global partners to help co-finance the “desperately needed collaborative clinical research”.
The EDCTP said more funding might be made available depending on the response of member countries. Applications are due by 17 April.
The call was one of seven the EDCTP launched focused on sub-Saharan Africa worth a total of worth €80m, covering poverty-related diseases, neglected infectious diseases and research capacity development.