Translating animal research into human trials in Ethiopia: Challenges and opportunities
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Date
2020-06
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Addis Abeba University
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Although the goal of translational research is to bring biomedical
knowledge from the laboratory to clinical trial and therapeutic products for improving health, this
goal has not been well achieved as often as desired because of many barriers documented in
different countries. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the challenges and
opportunities of translating animal research into human trials in Ethiopia.
Methods: A descriptive qualitative study, using in-depth interviews, was conducted in which
preclinical and clinical trial researchers who have been involved in animal research or clinical trials
as principal investigator were involved. Data were analyzed using thematic process.
Results: Six themes were emerged for challenges: lack of financial and human capacity, inadequate
infrastructure, operational obstacles and poor research governance, lack of collaboration, lack of
reproducibility of results and prolonged ethical and regulatory approval processes. Furthermore,
four themes were synthesized for opportunities: growing infrastructure and resources, improved
human capacity and better administrative processes, initiatives for collaboration, and similarities
between species.
Conclusion and recommendations: The study found that the identified characteristics/features are
of high importance either to hurdle or enable the practice of translating animal research into human
trials. The study suggests that there should be adequate infrastructure and finance, human capacity
building, good research governance, improved ethical and regulatory approval process,
multidisciplinary collaboration, and incentives and recognition for researchers to overcome the
identified challenges and allow translating of animal research into human trials to proceed more
efficiently.
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Keywords
Animal research, Challenges, Ethiopia, Human trials, Opportunities, Translational research