HeDPAC and the University of the West Indies Partnered to enhance health research and clinical trial capacity in the Caribbean

Kingston, Jamaica, February 2025 - A partnership agreement has been signed between Health Development Partnership for Africa and the Caribbean (HeDPAC) and the University of West Indies (UWI) aiming to enhance health research and clinical trial capacity in the Caribbean.

The partnership will focus on the establishment of a Clinical Trial Unit (CTU) that will coordinate clinical trials and research capacity building across UWI campuses creating a high-quality research environment that adheres to international standards. UWI with its strong academic heritage and a network of campuses in Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago and satellite networks in all the Caribbean countries play a key role in shaping the Caribbean’s health educational and research landscape. Other areas of collaboration include the transfer of knowledge and capacity-building initiatives through south-south partnerships including the Africa region, joint scientific research projects, and data to inform policies and advocacy efforts at local, regional, and global levels.

HeDPAC's support for building clinical trial capacity is not just about advancing science, it is to support the vision of transforming the Caribbean into a hub for health innovation, pharmaceutical industry development and independence, and sustainable economic growth. It is a contribution to empowering the region to tackle its health challenges on one hand while strengthening its role in the regional and global healthcare landscape. Dr. Haileyesus Getahun, CEO of HeDPAC, said “The Partnership will enable more coordinated research efforts to address urgent health challenges including for women and children within Caribbean countries. It also catalyzes cross regional opportunities of collaboration with clinical trial networks in Africa”. “This further foster south to south partnership in advancing health science and research”, he adds.

Dr. Damian Cohall, Dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences, Cave Hill Campus stated that. “The CTU will fundamentally increase capacity to undertake research and development and contribute to support the establishment of a pharmaceutical sector, as well as regulatory mechanisms for CARICOM countries in pharmaceutical regulation”.

HeDPAC and the UWI will also work on knowledge transfer and capacity building through conducting joint training programs, workshops, and seminars for researchers, healthcare professionals, and students. The two institutions will also undertake joint research projects to address critical health issues.

Professor Simon Anderson, Director at the Caribbean Institute of Health Research, welcomed the agreement, emphasizing the importance of coordinated efforts in clinical trials and highlighted the need for structured collaboration to address regional health challenges, particularly in non-communicable diseases, infectious diseases, and climate change. He said, “The syndemic of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), infectious diseases, and the interplay of these with climate change will require a successful regional research community to consider the gaps and challenges and to work within south-south solutions-driven partnerships to address the issues that impact our citizens.”

Both HeDPAC and UWI are committed to continued collaboration and knowledge sharing with plans for future research projects and capacity-building initiatives.