Operational goal is to provide experienced oversight while advancing the network toward long-term, local self-sustainability
FHI Clinical Inc. announced that it has expanded its support role in the PREVAIL clinical research network, or Partnership for Research on Vaccines and Infectious Diseases in Liberia, to include full operational management. The goal is to sustain the ability of the network’s research-ready sites to conduct high-quality research in collaboration with sponsors and research teams, with a focus on emergent and high-impact public health research priorities in Liberia.
Subcontracted by Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, currently operated by Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., FHI Clinical oversees and facilitates the execution and contractual requirements of in-country logistics. These tasks include sourcing, procuring and shipping; all staff hiring; staff training, including good clinical practice, laboratory practices, data management, computer skills, record keeping, etc.; facility management; and renovation project management. In addition, support for the following activities is provided:
- Planning and preparation for conducting research laboratory operations
- Data management, biostatistics and Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB)
- Social mobilization and community engagement, social analytics and participant biometrics for study enrollment
The research network was originally established in 2014 by the Liberian Ministry of Health and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in response to the 2014-2015 Ebola outbreak. To expand the scope to include other diseases of public health importance in Liberia, network partners shifted away from emergency response to establishing sustainable research infrastructure.
Currently, both Liberian and U.S. representatives are involved in the governance of the PREVAIL network, including:
- Liberian Ministry of Health #1
- National Public Health Institute of Liberia
- University of Liberia
- JFK Memorial Medical Center in Liberia
- U.S. National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- World Health Organization
This growth-generating support is helping to expand a nimble network with a robust research portfolio that aims to strengthen health policies and practice and improve overall health while also responding to future outbreaks.
“We’re proud to contribute to the PREVAIL network’s mission of conducting collaborative biomedical and public health research in accordance with best practices, to advance science, strengthen health policy and practice and improve the health of Liberians and people worldwide,” shared Ted FitzGerald, CEO, FHI Clinical. “Our support helps preserve investment in human and equipment resources and ensures sites are ready to conduct quality research as soon as there is a need.”
To learn more:
This project was funded, in whole or in part, with federal funds from the National Cancer Institute contract number 75N91019D00024 Task Orders 75N91019F00130, 75N91020F00004, 75N91019F00129, 75N91019F00131, 75N91020F00005, 75N91019F00137 and/or HHSN261201500003I Task Order HHSN261000033, HHSN261000043 and HHSN261000059.
