The Technical Advisory Group (TAG) on Clinical Research Ecosystem Strengthening was reconstituted in 2025 to advise the World Health Organization (WHO) on advancing the implementation of the Guidance for Best Practices for Clinical Trials and to provide expert input on new normative work that supports stronger, more coordinated, and equitable clinical research ecosystems worldwide.
Building on the foundation laid by the previous TAG that guided the development of the Guidance for Best Practices for Clinical Trials, this redefined group ensures continuity in WHO’s efforts to strengthen the global clinical research ecosystem in line with World Health Assembly Resolution WHA75.8 on strengthening clinical trials.
The TAG continues to advise WHO on the design, implementation, and uptake of tools that improve clinical research quality, coordination, and impact, particularly in low- and middle-income countries and in underrepresented populations.
Through its diverse membership and global perspective, the TAG supports WHO’s commitment to ensuring that every country can generate and use high-quality clinical evidence that benefits all populations.
Contact
For more information, please contact the WHA75.8 Secretariat at: wha758@who.int.
Background
In 2022, the World Health Assembly adopted Resolution WHA75.8, requesting WHO to review existing guidance and develop new guidance as needed on best practices for clinical trials, including strengthening clinical trial infrastructure and coordination.
Following the successful publication and translation of the Guidance for Best Practices for Clinical Trials, WHO’s work has expanded to focus on implementation and ecosystem strengthening.
The reconstituted TAG reflects this shift, providing strategic advice to WHO on advancing related normative products such as the Benchmarking Tool for Clinical Trial Units and training resources.
The TAG’s role is integral to operationalizing the Global Action Plan for Clinical Trial Ecosystem Strengthening (GAP-CTS).
Terms and conditions of appointment to the Technical Advisory Group
Members of WHO advisory groups must be free from conflicts of interest. Applicants must complete the WHO Declaration of Interests, and selection depends on confirming no conflicts or managing any identified conflicts, in addition to WHO’s evaluation of an applicant’s experience, expertise and motivation and other criteria. All TAG members serve in an individual expert capacity and do not represent any government, commercial, academic, or other organizations. They are expected to fully comply with the Code of Conduct for WHO Experts.
Members (2025-2027)
Professor of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences
Head of Patient Engagement in Research at Sant Joan de Déu Chidren’s Hospital (Spain)
Medical Director at the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi) and Honorary Senior Lecturer at Imperial College London
Chief Scientific Officer at the Science for Africa Foundation (SFA)
Director of the Child and Adolescent Health PhD Program at The University of Melbourne
Professor of Health and Social Science Methodology in the Centre for Public Health at Queen’s University Belfast, Northern Ireland
Group Chief Operating Officer of The University of Hong Kong Clinical Trials Centre (China) (HKU-CTCC) and HKU Clinical Research (Shenzhen)
General Administration of Clinical Trials at the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA)
Director of the FIOCRUZ HIV Prevention and Therapeutic Clinical Trials Unit at FIOCRUZ
Director of the Tata Memorial Hospital and Professor and Head of Thoracic Surgery at the Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, India
Professor & Head, Pharmacology; Head, Clinical Research, St. John’s Medical College & Research Institute, Bangalore, India
Clinical trial expert – Retired
Professor at the Global Health Department of the School of Public Health and Leader of the Global One Health Research Group at the Kumasi Center for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR)
Chief Executive Officer of Cochrane
Director of the Asia Centre for Health Security at the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore
Professor of Medicine and Director of the Clinical Trials Unit at Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
Operations
The TAG shall be convened as needed to review the development of draft guidance or other related purposes. WHO convenes an initial virtual meeting to initiate operations and discuss procedures, followed by periodic sessions generally held virtually.
TAG meetings are conducted as closed sessions, restricted to members and essential WHO Secretariat staff. The quorum for meetings is two-thirds of the members.
Members participate in their individual expert capacity, independent of governments or institutions, and are bound by WHO’s Code of Conduct for Experts and Declaration of Interests policy.
The WHO Secretariat coordinates the TAG’s activities, provides technical and administrative support, and ensures that all outputs align with WHO’s normative processes.
All recommendations and advice from the TAG are advisory to WHO. The Organization retains full decision-making authority on any related policy or action.