Imagine trying to launch a new medicine in a place where there are no digital records to track if it's working or causing side effects. This project builds the digital 'plumbing' and lab networks needed to safely test and roll out vaccines for pregnant women. It's like setting up the safety net and tracking system before the high-wire act of a major medical launch.
Vaccine developers lack the safety monitoring systems and disease data needed to conduct Phase III/IV trials and launch products in sub-Saharan Africa. This creates a high risk of trial failure or slow market entry due to poor data and public mistrust.
Digital pregnancy registries embedded in EHRs, a network of microbiological surveillance sites, and communication toolkits to fight vaccine hesitancy.
If you are a vaccine developer dealing with the lack of clinical trial sites in Africa — this project developed a network of maternal vaccine trial sites that can rapidly evaluate vaccines from late-stage trials through to national introduction. This reduces the risk and time needed to enter the sub-Saharan African market.
If you are an EHR provider dealing with incomplete maternal health data — this project developed pregnancy episodes registries (PERs) integrated into EHRs in 4 countries. This provides a blueprint for expanding digital health tools into specialized maternal care markets.
If you are a consulting firm dealing with vaccine hesitancy in new markets — this project developed communication toolkits and social science tools to improve trial participation. This ensures higher enrollment rates and better public trust for new product launches.
Based on available project data, no specific pricing or cost information for the registries or toolkits is provided.
The project is currently being piloted in 4 countries (Kenya, Mozambique, Malawi, and Uganda), suggesting a model that could be replicated in other low-resource settings.
Based on available project data, the IP and licensing terms are not specified, though the project involves 10 partners across 8 countries.
The project integrates pregnancy episodes registries (PERs) directly into existing electronic health records (EHR) in the target countries.
The project period is from 2024-03-01 to 2027-02-28.
The consortium is heavily weighted toward academic and research institutions (6 universities, 2 research centers), reflecting the project's focus on clinical validation. However, the inclusion of 1 industry partner and 1 SME, alongside a coordinator from a global health institute, indicates a bridge between academic research and practical market application. The geographic spread across 8 countries, including 4 in sub-Saharan Africa, provides the necessary local infrastructure for real-world testing.
Contact the Fundacion Privada Instituto de Salud Global Barcelona
Contact us to explore partnerships with the PROTECT network for vaccine trials in Africa.
