Background MRC The Gambia and MRC Uganda joined London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) in 2018 to form a family of institutions committed to high quality research. Each institution supports Clinical Trials through a formally-constituted Clinical Trials Unit (CTU) or equivalent resources, where the function is to provide end-to-end support for high quality clinical trials (CTs). Until recently, the three CTUs worked as islets, supporting only trials involving their respective institutions as sponsor or partner. In late 2022, the CTUs started a dialogue with the aim of creating regionally-based yet internationally-networked hubs. Our ambition is to leverage the strengths of each CTU and enhance support for high quality CTs through collaborative working and coordinated sharing of resources, expertise and training.

Methods We applied an informal SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis. This identified Strengths where one CTU might take the lead, Weaknesses where a CTU needed support from the others, and where there were Opportunities to be gained from collaboration. We also discussed limitations that might pose Threats to achieving our aims. We adopted principles of equitable partnership. Early conversations took place remotely, followed by in-person meetings which helped to build relationships, deepen contextual understanding and identify specific areas for collaboration.

Results Preliminary collaborative activities underway to foster interdependence between our CTUs include: i) running joint seminar series, ii) co-developing an electronic trial Masterfile (eTMF) system compliant with international standards, iii) developing a searchable database of all trials at LSHTM, iv) working towards shared digital infrastructure for the design, implementation, management and analysis of trials and shared human resources.

Conclusion Collaboration is key for successful clinical trials. Through leveraging unique strengths and counteracting individual weaknesses of three geographically dispersed CTUs, we will create a strong networked trials capacity that is more than the sum of its parts.