[afro-nets] South African MRC selected as African EDCTP Secretariat

[S.M. Vry <vry@edctp.org>]

South African MRC selected as African EDCTP Secretariat
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South African MRC selected as hosting institution of the African
branch office of EDCTP Secretariat

The Hague, the Netherlands - On 3 March 2004, the Assembly of
the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partner-
ship (EDCTP) unanimously selected the South African Medical Re-
search Council (MRC) to host the African Branch Office. The
EDCTP Secretariat will have two offices, one in The Hague (the
Netherlands), hosted by NWO and one now in Cape Town.

The EDCTP aims to accelerate the development of new clinical in-
terventions to fight HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, joining
European programmes and African partners, and the relevant ca-
pacities in developing countries for the evaluation of such in-
terventions. The African Branch Office will represent the EDCTP
in Africa and provide executive, administrative and promotional
support for the EDCTP programme.

"The choice of the host institution was based on a careful se-
lection process. In a competitive bidding to host the African
Branch Office of the EDCTP Secretariat, the selection committee
received and carefully evaluated numerous highly qualified ap-
plications", said Dr. P. Mocumbi, High Representative of the
EDCTP and ex-prime minister of Mozambique. Acting President of
the SA MRC, Prof. Emeritus W. Pick said that "the MRC is pleased
with the outcome of the bidding process. It is a great honour
for South Africa and the MRC. We are particularly pleased as the
decision of the Assembly reinforces the MRC's position as a
leader in health research."

In order to secure objectivity the selection committee was com-
posed of representatives from the governing bodies of the EDCTP
and the European Commission. Applications were scored and ranked
according to pre-set criteria, such as infrastructure and sup-
port in administrative functions, experience and quality of ser-
vices in management of health research programmes and budget
management/controlling mechanism. Three applications were short-
listed for site assessment. After a site-visit the ranking was
finalized and a recommendation made for a final decision on 3
March.

"In our discussions we made it very clear that the hosting in-
stitution will provide the necessary structure and services for
the office to function, but it will be exactly like any other
institution when it comes to competing for funding and collabo-
ration", explained Dr. P. Olliaro, Executive Director of the
EDCTP. A taskforce, with representatives of EDCTP and MRC is al-
ready in action to ensure all the necessary aspects involved
with setting up the office. Dr. P. Olliaro: "We aim for the of-
fice to start operating in the second quarter of this year".

About EDCTP

The European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partner-
ship (EDCTP) provides a new, innovative platform for European
programmes and African partners to collaborate. Its mission is
to accelerate the development of new clinical interventions to
fight HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis in the developing coun-
tries, particularly sub-Saharan Africa, and to improve generally
the quality of research in relation to these diseases.

The EDCTP was established in 2003 by 14 EU Member States and
Norway with the developing countries as a genuine and sustained
partnership.

About MRC

The SA Medical Research Council (MRC) is a well-established
statutory research body in sub-Saharan Africa. Established in
1969 by an Act of Parliament, the MRC has since worked very hard
to earn its place as one of Africa's top science councils.

The MRC's mission is to improve the health and quality of life
of South Africans through relevant and excellent health research
aimed at promoting equity and development.

For further information contact:
Mr. Sandor Vrij
Communications & Advocacy Officer, EDCTP
Tel: +31-70-344-0885
mailto:vry@edctp.org
http://www.edctp.org

Mr. Julian Jacobs
Public Relations Manager
SA Medical Research Council
Tel: +27-21-938-0241
mailto:julian.jacobs@mrc.ac.za