The Aga Khan University’s Clinical Trials Unit (CTU) has been formally designated as a World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Clinical Trials, marking a significant milestone for clinical research in Pakistan and the Eastern Mediterranean Region. With this designation, the CTU becomes the first centre in the EMRO region to receive this status, reinforcing AKU’s leadership in advancing high-quality, ethically robust clinical research.
Pakistan, the fifth most populous country in the world, faces a disease burden that exceeds the South Asian regional average. This reality highlights the urgent need for innovative, effective diagnostic, preventive, and therapeutic solutions tailored to local populations. Established in 2011, AKU’s Clinical Trials Unit was created to respond to these needs by offering a state-of-the-art platform that supports locally driven and globally relevant clinical research. Under the leadership of Dr Saeed Hamid, Director, CTU, the unit has played a pivotal role in strengthening systems that meet international regulatory and Good Clinical Practice standards.
The CTU operates with a clear mandate to advance AKU’s broader research mission by developing a centre of excellence for clinical trials. It is committed to building systems and processes that enable the conduct of high-quality trials relevant to Pakistan’s population, while improving access to effective treatments and strengthening healthcare practices nationally and internationally. Central to this mission is a strong emphasis on patient safety and data integrity.
Dr Vasee Moorthy, MD, PhD, from the World Health Organization Headquarters in Geneva, congratulated Aga Khan University on the designation of its Clinical Trials Unit as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Clinical Trial Training and Capacity Development. He noted that the availability of high-quality evidence would bring major public health gains for Pakistan by supporting the selection of contextually relevant interventions based on local needs. He further emphasised that, in its role as a WHO Collaborating Centre, AKU will support efforts to strengthen national capacity for evidence generation.
The Unit brings together academically distinguished principal investigators with national and international reputations, supported by a university hospital environment that offers a comprehensive range of medical and surgical specialties. Its research portfolio spans pre-clinical and Phase II to IV studies, including pharmaceutical and device trials, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies, neuroimaging, inpatient and outpatient research, community-based trials and pharmaco-economic evaluations.
Equipped with dedicated research infrastructure, on-site laboratories, secure data management systems and specialised storage facilities for temperature-sensitive materials, the CTU ensures operational excellence across all stages of a trial. Its experienced research staff facilitate efficient protocol approvals, regulatory compliance and quality assurance, supported by regular ethics review and institutional oversight.
As a WHO Collaborating Centre, the Clinical Trials Unit is well positioned to contribute to global health priorities while strengthening local research capacity.
