IMPAACT Network Chair is Key Contributor to Updated WHO Clinical Trial Guidance

The World Health Organization (WHO) released its updated global guidance to make clinical trials more effective and equitable across countries of all income levels. Dr. Sharon Nachman, IMPAACT Network Chair, was a key contributor to this initiative.  

The guidance includes several recommendations, such as including underrepresented populations, like pregnant and lactating people, people of childbearing age, and children, in clinical trial studies. According to a WHO news release, “…less than 5% of clinical trials included pregnant women and only 13% included children” based on 2022 data. This is a positive step forward for the communities IMPAACT and our partners serve. 

Additionally, the guidance will help strengthen country-led research where there have been growing divides between clinical trials in high-income countries and low- and middle-income countries. This division has led to inequitable outcomes and emphasized the need to improve trial design, include underrepresented populations, and eliminate infrastructure inefficiencies.  

WHO’s updated guidance was established based on a World Health Assembly resolution to strengthen clinical trials and improve research quality and coordination. To read WHO’s guidance for best practices for clinical trials, please click here.