15-20 June 2025: ICGEB attended the Twelfth EDCTP Forum hosted by the Ministry of Health of Rwanda and the Rwanda Biomedical Centre, and jointly organised by Global Health EDCTP3 and the EDCTP Association. The theme for the 2025 Forum was “Better health through global research partnerships”.
Providing a unique international platform for policymakers, researchers and stakeholders to advance global health through policy debates, scientific workshops, partnerships and networking, the biennial forum placed partnerships at the core of discussions. ICGEB Cape Town Director, Dr Luiz Zerbini participated in the plenary panel discussion on productive partnerships, chaired by Moses Alobo, Head of Programmes, Science for Africa Foundation, Kenya and Kara Hanson, Director, Global Health Research, National Institute for Health & Care Research, United Kingdom. Dr Zerbini shared the ICGEB’s experience in partnerships, showcasing its success and impact with public-private partnerships, as well as the many years of partnerships with ICGEB Member States. The panel highlighted how trust, a commitment to common goals and valuing all partners’ contributions can enhance the likelihood of success.
Since having signed a Memorandum of Understanding in December 2022, ICGEB and EDCTP continue working together to advance scientific research and training in areas of mutual interest. A notable joint training activity took place over two-weeks in mid November 2024 in ICGEB Trieste, run by the Biotechnology Development Unit, offering personalised hands-on biomanufacturing training and bioprocessing techniques to researchers from Cameroon, Namibia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Mozambique, Uganda and Senegal. The training was supported by the National Institute for Health (NIHR), with international development funding from the UK Government, Department of Health and Social Care.
During the visit to Kigali, the ICGEB team also had the opportunity to meet with Dr Dieudonne Mutangana from the University of Rwanda and Liaison Officer of Rwanda to the ICGEB, visiting the STEM Center and Innovation Hub of the University, as well as engaging with researchers.
For more info on the Forum: Programme and Panel EDCTP | The secret of productive partnerships
