The World Health Organization (WHO) announced the outcomes of its second Global Clinical Trials Forum, held earlier this month in Geneva, which gathered more than 100 stakeholders representing a wide mix of expertise—regulators, government officials, funders, researchers, ethics boards, patient groups and pharmaceutical industry leaders. The goal was straightforward but ambitious: to accelerate the global clinical trials landscape and ensure that medical innovation is both timely and equitable.

The forum’s guiding theme, “Action for Impact,” underscored a shift from discussion to implementation. Delegates reaffirmed their commitment to the WHO’s Guidance for Best Practices for Clinical Trials and the World Health Assembly Resolution WHA75.8, both of which emphasize that trials must not only meet scientific standards but also deliver results that matter to patients, communities, and health systems.

Why This Matters

Clinical trials are often the bottleneck in medical progress. Even when promising therapies exist, trials can take years to organize, recruit for, and complete. Many trials also suffer from limited diversity, excluding populations in low- and middle-income countries where disease burden is often greatest. The forum directly tackled these issues, urging the adoption of more inclusive recruitment strategies and the embedding of trials into national health services so they are not treated as isolated projects but as integral parts of patient care.

A Push Toward Innovation

One of the most heavily discussed topics was the rise of decentralized and hybrid trial models. These allow patients to participate without traveling long distances to research centers, using digital tools, local clinics, and wearable technology to track outcomes. Such models not only widen access but also reduce costs, a critical factor for resource-constrained health systems.

Delegates also explored how digital platforms and data sharing frameworks could improve efficiency. With lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, there is broad recognition that trials must adapt to respond rapidly to emerging threats while still maintaining rigorous standards.

Global Collaboration at the Forefront

Countries attending the forum committed to strengthening national clinical trial ecosystems. Several pledged to update legislation and regulatory pathways to cut unnecessary delays. Others outlined new funding streams dedicated to supporting investigator-led trials that may not have big pharmaceutical backing but still address pressing public health needs.

The WHO highlighted that a handful of nations are already using the new best practice guidelines to draft national trial workplans, ensuring smoother approvals and clearer responsibilities across agencies. These efforts reflect a global momentum: clinical research is no longer seen as the domain of a few wealthy nations but as a shared mission.

A Human Dimension

Underlying the technical discussions was a recognition of the human cost of delay. For patients battling cancer, rare diseases, or infectious outbreaks, every month of postponed access to innovative therapies can mean a loss of lives or diminished quality of life. By embedding trials more deeply into health systems and accelerating regulatory approvals, the forum aimed to bridge the gap between laboratory science and patient benefit.

Looking Ahead

The WHO will continue to monitor progress and convene follow-up sessions to ensure promises turn into measurable improvements. Stakeholders agreed that success will not be defined by how many reports are written, but by how quickly safe, effective therapies reach the people who need them most.

The message from Geneva was clear: the world can no longer afford slow, fragmented clinical trials. What began as a forum has now evolved into a coordinated global movement, one where efficiency, inclusivity, and public trust are treated as non-negotiable. If countries deliver on their commitments, the landscape of clinical research may look very different by the end of this decade – faster, fairer, and far more patient-centred.