Trials of Excellence in Southern Africa (TESA) network is a consortium established in 2009, through the collaborative effort of the Southern African research institutes and Universities involved in Clinical Trial (CT). It’s a network made up of different centers that collaborate with different levels of development and expertise, but complementary Clinical Research landscape. The TESA network was also created as mechanism to fostering research collaborations, through investing in a joint pathway towards a stronger and sustainable clinical research landscape. The overall strategic orientation for TESANetwork is to create a framework for collaboration, capacity building and training among TESA partners and promoting healthy ageing and personalised healthcare. TESA network has a proven track record of productive research and development (R&D) on European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) priority poverty-related diseases (PRDs) that have been established over the past decade between African and European countries participating in the first EDCTP program. The overall aim of TESA is to develop, strengthen and expand clinical research capacities in the Southern Region of Africa, through the consolidation of the TESA Network of Excellence (NoE) for conducting CT with the highest research standards on those infectious diseases responsible for the highest morbidity and mortality in the region.

The TESAIII project, is funded by the EDCTP and it will be running from 2021 to 2024 and coordinated by Fundação Manhiça (FM-CISM). With TESA III, 15 institutions from 9 African and 3 European countries come together to strengthen and enhance the capacities for clinical research in Southern Africa built during TESA, and to strengthen the collaboration of North-South and South-South networking activities among its members. TESA III focuses on transfering technology, strengthening the capacities among partner sites in Southern Africa, promoting professional development and scientific leadership and fostering collaborations to maximize impact. TESA develops specific activities aiming to increase researchers critical mass devoted to health, develop first-class institutions engaging clinical trials to prevent PRDs and promote dialogue between researchers, communities and policymakers. 

TESA III Objectives

  1. To promote and consolidate the TESA network activities across the region and to involve other countries which are not yet part of the network.
  2. To use the established regional reference laboratories and joint clinical trials for on-the-job training in Malaria, HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis, and promote basic studies for the LDS to engage in hands on training at their sites and, also to provide a financial support for some infrastructure upgrades.
  3. To establish and promote capacity building built from TESA II, including data management, data and analysis and data sharing across the network.
  4. To establish a joint platform with national and regional agencies to develop and straightening collaboration on evidence sharing for the decision-making process, dialogue between researchers, communities, and policy-makers to maximize the impact of clinical research in Africa.

TESAIII Supported Trainees

  1. Bonolo Phinius (PhD trainee)
  2. Nametso Kelentse (PhD trainee)
  3. Ontlametse Bareng (Master’s trainee)
  4. Doreen Ditshwanelo (Master’s trainee)