WHO Global Clinical Trials Forum (GCTF)

About us

The Global Clinical Trials Forum (GCTF) is a World Health Organization (WHO) managed network. The network aims to enable activities of partners for implementation of WHO's Guidance for Best Practices for Clinical Trials, guidance developed at the request of World Health Assembly resolution WHA 75.8. The Global Action Plan for Clinical Trial Ecosystem Strengthening re-articulates the WHO guidance in the form of key actions for implementation. The network seeks to improve clinical trial environment and infrastructure at national, regional and global levels in line with WHO guidance. It is not a separate legal entity but operates under the auspices of WHO, adhering to its Constitution, General Programme of Work, applicable regulations and policies.

When was GCTF formed?

GCTF was established in 2025 to support the implementation of the World Health Assembly (WHA) resolution WHA75.8 and strengthen regional and country capacities related to clinical trials. This aligns with WHO’s GPW14 Corporate outcome 2, which emphasizes strengthening research, innovation and regulatory systems so that countries can generate and apply evidence, make use of WHO’s technical and normative guidance, and translate these into measurable health impact. 

Vision: Efficient clinical trial approval processes together with sustained trial capacity that is in permanent use to address everyday clinical issues and build trust as part of functioning health care systems in each region of the globe and which can pivot in an emergency.

Mission: To support the implementation of World Health Assembly Resolution (WHA 75.8) by strengthening clinical trial environment and infrastructure, thereby enhancing global public health research capabilities and improving clinical trial readiness.

Objectives:

GCTF has two broad objectives:

1. Support implementation of WHO trials guidance:
• Develop a strategy to raise awareness about WHA 75.8 resolution and associated actions.
• Apply the guidance to iteratively improve clinical trial environments and infrastructure to general actionable evidence.
2. Networking and knowledge sharing:
• Facilitate communication and information sharing among stakeholders including clinical research institutions, national health authorities, research funders, ethics authorities, regulators, patient and community engagement organizations and the private sector.
• Enable the work of partners in areas aligned with WHA 75.8, WHO guidance for best practices for clinical trials, and the related Global Action Plan.

• Clinical Trials in Global Health 2025
  • Better engagement, better evidence: working in partnership with patients, the public, and communities in clinical trials with involvement and good participatory practice - The Lancet Global Health
  • Strengthening the paediatric clinical trial ecosystem to better inform policy and programmes - The Lancet Global Health
  • Advancing maternal and perinatal health through clinical trials: key insights from a WHO global consultation - The Lancet Global Health
  • Democratising clinical trials research to strengthen primary health care - The Lancet Global Health
  • Reporting summary results in clinical trial registries: updated guidance from WHO - The Lancet Global Health
  • A roadmap for fostering timely regulatory and ethics approvals of international clinical trials in support of global health research systems - The Lancet Global Health
  • Improving the clinical trial environment and infrastructure: moving from global resolution to action - The Lancet Global Health

• Enhancing global clinical trial transparency for  better health outcomes for all