The Central Africa Network on Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and Malaria (CANTAM) was created in 2009 with the major aim to build capacity in seven institutions in the three countries Cameroon, Gabon and the Republic of Congo (RoC) for the conduct of clinical trials.
The strategy for achieving this goal was to select institutions with the lowest capacities to conduct clinical research in Cameroon and RoC and to drive them to a higher level through participation in multicentre clinical research involving the highly experienced center in Gabon. Thus, during the past 5 years, baseline data on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria have been collected. A dynamic training platform for academic and non-academic training has been developed involving regional partners like WHO/AFRO, UNICEF, Ministries of Public Health and Ministries of Science and Technology.
During the next 5 years CANTAM will consolidate the achievements of the first period and aims at filling specific identified gaps in tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, malaria and co-morbidities in Central Africa by involving more countries (Democratic Republic of the Congo and collaboration with Zambia), more institutions in Gabon and RoC and more European partners (United Kingdom, The Netherlands) and by conducting innovative interventions.
In the second phase of the programme, we propose to expand the CANTAM network by including new partner sites and countries in order to increase the critical mass of researchers and to acquire expertise (such as pharmacovigilance activities) that is still lacking in the region.
AIMS
- To develop human resources in skills required to conduct safe clinical trials including GCP/GLP training, preparation and development of clinical and standardized protocols from recruitment of participants and treatment of biological samples.
- To strengthen ethics review boards and regulatory authorities in needy collaborating sites
- To strengthen laboratories to be able to perform relevant tests
- To establish effective community liaison at each site and to collect baseline data necessary for future interventions.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Baseline studies: In Cameroon and Congo, epidemiological studies for collecting data on HIV, Malaria and TB infections (prevalence, genotypes of strains, level of resistance to drug, age-distribution,) were materialized by 8 publications.
Training: A total of 06 MSc and 9 PhD students were trained at the different institutions in collaboration with Northern Partners. Staff also gained skilled through short term training of lab technicians, nurses, etc.
Networking: CANTAM consolidated its collaborations with other regional and international networks by sharing knowledge and training activities.
