Africa Clinical Research Network Podcast
The ACRN Podcast is your gateway to Africa-led conversations on clinical research, health innovation, and policy. Hosted by the Africa Clinical Research Network, this series brings together researchers, clinicians, regulators, policymakers, and industry leaders from across the continent to explore how Africa is shaping—and must continue to shape—the future of global clinical research.
Each episode features expert insights from African physician-scientists and innovators, discussions on emerging health technologies, policy dialogues influencing Africa’s research ecosystem, and stories that center African leadership in global health. Our goal is to spotlight credible, African-led voices at the intersection of science, policy, and industry, and to advance collaborative, community-driven research.
Whether you’re a policymaker, regulator, researcher, funder, or anyone passionate about Africa’s role in global health, this podcast is for you. Expect honest conversations, nuanced perspectives, and a commitment to challenging assumptions—including our own.
Stay tuned for our official launch and join us as we elevate Africa’s voice in clinical research!
Africa Clinical Research Network Podcast
From Trials to Industry: Building Africa’s Life Sciences Ecosystem | ACRN Podcast EP04
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In this episode of the ACRN Health Podcast, host Dr Wilfred Gurupira convenes a roundtable discussion with Prof Collen Masimirembwa (AiBST) and Prof Brighton Samatanga (The Biotech Institute) to explore how Africa can transition from participating in clinical trials to building a sustainable, homegrown life sciences industry.
The conversation examines the structural, scientific, and economic foundations required to build a thriving ecosystem, including:
• Clinical research as a foundation for industry
• The gap between scientific discovery and commercialization
• Building and sustaining institutions in Africa
• Talent, risk, and the realities of building locally
• The role of partnerships and ecosystem thinking
• Africa’s competitiveness in the global life sciences landscape
• The economic potential of investing in life sciences
Grounded in practical experience and candid reflection, this discussion offers a strategic perspective on what it will take to build Africa’s life sciences future from within.