A future where clinical trials are faster, more inclusive and directly embedded in health systems came closer to reality as over 100 global stakeholders gathered at WHO headquarters in Geneva for the second Global Clinical Trials Forum (GCTF). This was a pivotal event accelerating the implementation of WHO's Guidance for Best Practices for Clinical Trials and the vision of World Health Assembly Resolution WHA75.8.
Themed "Action for Impact," this year's Forum marked a significant step in translating global standards into national reforms and institutional workplans. Participants included national health research governance agencies, clinical trial regulators and ethics bodies, funders, civil society organizations, academic institutions and industry leaders.
Turning guidance into action
The Forum came at a crucial moment, just months after the launch of WHO's Guidance for Best Practices for Clinical Trials in September 2024, and amid final preparations for the release of the Global Action Plan for Clinical Trial Ecosystem Strengthening (GAP-CTS). This action plan, built on stakeholder consultations between 2022 and 2025, outlines tangible, measurable steps to strengthen trial governance, infrastructure, workforce and inclusion across diverse settings.
Centring people and ethics in research
A major theme of the Forum was putting people at the centre of clinical research. With new WHO guidance aligned to the revised Declaration of Helsinki, the Forum spotlighted patient involvement, diversity, and equity – not as add-ons but as cornerstones of good science.
Inclusion is not optional. It's central to generating reliable, actionable evidence that serves all populations.
From global commitments to national action
The Forum featured powerful examples of national reform. Case studies from Canada, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and South Africa showcased how countries are adopting WHO guidance to transform their clinical research ecosystems. This includes removing unnecessary bureaucracy, digitizing submission systems, setting up single research ethics committee models, embedding patient involvement and community engagement structures, and providing one-stop shops for sponsors to discuss how to navigate clinical trial systems. These case studies illustrated how countries are localizing global guidance to fit their contexts, demonstrating that change is possible and already underway.
Participants engaged in a series of technical sessions and breakout groups to co-develop 12–18-month workplans aligned to the nine pillars of the GAP-CTS, including:
- strengthening national ecosystems and leadership
- expanding inclusive training initiatives
- addressing barriers faced by underrepresented populations
- embedding trials into health systems
- scaling up digital solutions and registry transparency
- enabling adoption of innovative trial designs
- advancing international collaboration.
Looking ahead
WHO will continue to support countries and partners that are prioritizing clinical research strengthening as part of their health systems strengthening and public health preparedness. Translation of WHO Guidance into WHO official languages is underway, and regional workplans will be developed in partnership with WHO regional offices.
As countries and organizations move from commitments to concrete actions, the GCTF provides a powerful platform for collaboration, peer learning and collective impact, ensuring that clinical trials are ethical, inclusive, scientifically sound and built for real-world relevance, and benefiting all people, everywhere.
