Key Insights from the ARC-WA Site Assessment Workshop 

17th March 2025 began with a sense of purpose at MRC Unit The Gambia at LSHTM  in Banjul, the Gambia, as experts gathered to take the next crucial step in strengthening West Africa’s clinical trial landscape. 

Over the past months, the ARC-WA team has been conducting site assessments across West Africa including Nigeria, Sierra Leone , Guinea, Liberia, and Benin,  evaluating infrastructure, clinical operations, laboratories, and community engagement. This workshop brought together the ARC-WA team and key partners to consolidate findings, create plans for capacity development, and chart the next steps for trial site readiness. 

Through rigorous evaluations, the team synthesized findings on existing capacity, identified gaps, and outlined capacity building plans for consideration.  

This process is more than a milestone; it is the foundation for West Africa’s next generation of clinical trial sites. With an initial focus on Lassa fever vaccine trials but with an eye on broader research capacity in the future too, these sites will play a critical role in ensuring rapid and effective emergency responses in the region. 

With thanks to CEPI for supporting this process.