About the DSMB Training
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is an autonomous institution of the African Union that supports the Member States (MS) in planning, preparing and responding to the health threats and disease outbreaks on the continent. Its work is guided by the leadership principles of credibility, ownership, delegated authority, the timely dissemination of information, transparency, accountability and value addition.
Among the units at Africa CDC is the Science and Innovation division whose mandate includes ensuring effective safety monitoring in clinical trials to uphold ethical research standards and protect participant well-being. Adverse events can arise during the administration of investiga-tional products, requiring rigorous oversight to assess risks and ensure timely interventions. The Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) plays a vital role in reviewing clinical trial data, safe-guarding trial participants and maintaining the integrity of study results. To strengthen DSMB ex-pertise across the continent, Africa CDC, in collaboration with the Safety Platform for Emergency Vaccines (SPEAC), is offering a structured training course in data safety monitoring.
This course aims to expand the pool of qualified DSMB members by increasing the availability of trained experts to support the ethical oversight of vaccine trials and strengthen global prepar-edness for emerging health threats. The eight-week programme combines self-paced learning and live virtual sessions facilitated by experts in vaccine safety and clinical trial monitoring. Up-on successful completion, participants may join the DSMB Pool and hey may be considered for future clinical trial oversight roles.
Africa CDC and CEPI/SPEAC jointly sponsor this training to equip professionals with the skills needed for effective safety monitoring in clinical trials, thereby improving research quality and public health outcomes.
