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About the WHO ICTRP

Following the Ministerial Summit on Health Research that took place in Mexico City, Mexico, in November 2004, participants called for the WHO to facilitate the establishment of: "a network of international clinical trials registers to ensure a single point of access and the unambiguous identification of trials".

This was further expanded on during the 58th World Health Assembly in Resolution WHA58.22 that called on the global scientific community, international partners, the private sector, civil society, and other relevant stakeholders to: "establish a voluntary platform to link clinical trials registers in order to ensure a single point of access and the unambiguous identification of trials with a view to enhancing access to information by patients, families, patient groups and others".

Also, In May 2022, the Seventy-fifth World Health Assembly adopted a new resolution WHA75.8 on “Strengthening clinical trials to provide high-quality evidence on health interventions and to improve research quality and coordination”. More information

The ICTRP is a project of the World Health Organization, based within the Science Division.

The Science Division harnesses the power of science and innovation, provides global leadership in leveraging the best scientific evidence to improve health and promote health equity for all. Its mission is to ensure that Member States are able to call on the best of science and innovation to achieve the health-related Sustainable Development Goals.

Within the Department of Research For Health (RFH), the mission of ICTRP is to ensure that a complete view of research is accessible to all those involved in health care decision making. This will improve research transparency and will ultimately strengthen the validity and value of the scientific evidence base.

Aims of the WHO ICTRP

The main aim of the WHO ICTRP is to facilitate the prospective registration of the WHO Trial Registration Data Set on all clinical trials, and the public accessibility of that information.

Values of the WHO ICTRP

1. Identify gaps in research
2. Improve trial design, conduct and reporting
3. Meet ethical obligations
4. Ensure greater accountability
5. Prevent unnecessary duplication and encourage necessary replication 
6. Improve public trust
7. Building of research infrastructure and capacity
8. Improve transparency
9. Prevent publication bias and selective reporting
10. Improve health

ICTRP Advisory Structure

The purpose of the ICTRP Advisory group is to advise WHO of major strategic development of the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) in order to strengthen accountability and transparency in the conduct of clinical research and dissemination of results generally, and in particular for clinical trials. The purpose of the Advisory group is also to recommend to the Chief Scientist of the Science Division whether registries should be designated, or continue to be designated, as Primary Registries in the WHO Registry Network.

The current membership of the Advisory group is as follows:

  • Dr Elie Akl
  • Dr Ségolène Aymé
  • Prof An-Wen CHAN (Chair)
  • Dr Carl Heneghan
  • Dr Lotty Hooft
  • Ms Elizabeth Pienaar (retired)
  • Dr Udaya Ranawaka
  • Prof Liliya Eugenevna Ziganshina

 

WHO ICTRP Team

The WHO ICTRP was established in August 2005. It is based in WHO Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

 

The ICTRP Secretariat consists of:

  • Mr Ghassan Karam, Project Manager

WHO Regional Officers involved are:

  • Dr Joseph Okeibunor, AFRO, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo
  • Dr Ludovic Reveiz, AMRO/PAHO, Washington DC, USA
  • Dr Arshad Altaf, RPD/SID, EMRO, Cairo, Egypt
  • Dr Takana Moyana, SEARO, New Delhi, India
  • Dr Mengji Chen, WPRO, Manilla, Philippines