NIMR Showcases Landmark Clinical Trials Driving Nigeria’s Health Innovation Agenda
NIMR Showcases Landmark Clinical Trials Driving Nigeria’s Health Innovation Agenda
Institute highlights decades of evidence-based research, global collaborations, and new directions in translational medicine
The Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Yaba, Lagos, has reaffirmed its role as the nation’s leading centre for biomedical and clinical investigations, highlighting the pivotal role of Randomized Clinical Trials (RCTs) in shaping Nigeria’s health policies and advancing scientific innovation.
This was the focus of the October Media Chat of the Institute, held on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, at the Cancer Research Centre of NIMR, Yaba. The event, themed “Randomized Clinical Trials at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR): A Cornerstone of Translational Research,” brought together health experts, researchers, journalists, and policy advocates.
The session was presided over by the Director General of NIMR, Prof. John Oladapo Obafunwa, alongside the Director of Research, Prof. Oliver Ezechi, Dr. Pascal Ezeobi, Senior Research Fellow and Head of the Clinical Sciences Department, and Dr. Agatha Eileen Wapmuk, Public Health Physician and Research Fellow, Clinical Sciences Department.
Delivering the keynote presentation, Dr. David Ayoola Oladele, Deputy Director of Research and Consultant Public Health Physician, outlined NIMR’s decades-long achievements in conducting rigorous, ethical, and globally relevant clinical trials that have shaped treatment protocols and policy decisions across Nigeria.
A Legacy of Scientific Rigor
Established in 1977, NIMR holds the national mandate to conduct research into diseases of public health importance, develop health innovations, and generate evidence for policy formulation.
Dr. Oladele explained that randomized clinical trials (RCTs) remain the cornerstone of this mission — providing scientific validation for drugs, vaccines, diagnostics, and health interventions.
He said, “Through our RCTs, NIMR continues to provide the empirical foundation for national treatment guidelines and health policy, while building local capacity for clinical excellence.”
Historical Milestones in Clinical Research
Over the past two decades, NIMR has coordinated numerous landmark clinical trials in collaboration with local and international partners.
Among its notable studies are:
- HIV/AIDS: Trials evaluating antiretroviral regimens using nevirapine, stavudine, and lamivudine.
- Microbicides: The SAVVY Vaginal Gel trial for HIV prevention in Nigerian women.
- Malaria: Multisite studies assessing artesunate-mefloquine therapy across four regions of Nigeria.
- COVID-19: Investigations into hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine use, as well as validation of SARS-CoV-2 rapid diagnostic kits.
- Vaccines: The SIFCOVAN trial assessing fractional COVID-19 vaccine dosing in adults.
- Public Health: The 4YouthByYouth (4YBY) stepped-wedge trial promoting HIV self-testing uptake among adolescents.
These achievements, he noted, have earned NIMR a reputation for scientific integrity, ethical compliance, and operational excellence in Africa’s research ecosystem.
Current Focus and Infrastructure
Dr. Oladele revealed that NIMR currently runs a growing portfolio of Phase I–IV clinical trials, including studies on non-communicable diseases, such as chronic kidney disease and hypertension management through the TASSH cluster randomized trial.
Supporting this work is a robust infrastructure that includes:
- A purpose-built 10-bed clinical trial unit for Phase I and II pharmacokinetic studies;
- An ISO 15189-certified Central Research Laboratory (CRL) equipped for molecular biology, immunology, and pharmacokinetics;
- A state-of-the-art Biorepository and Data Center for sample storage and real-time digital data capture;
- An accredited Institutional Review Board (IRB) under the National Health Research Ethics Committee (NHREC); and
- A pool of highly trained investigators and research support staff.
“These capacities position NIMR as a lead site for multicountry trials and a regional training hub for clinical investigators across West Africa,” Dr. Oladele stated.
Challenges and the Road Ahead
Despite these milestones, he noted, Nigeria still faces several barriers to large-scale RCT implementation. These include low research literacy, funding constraints, lengthy regulatory approvals, and weak industry–research partnerships.
Dr. Oladele emphasised that addressing these gaps will require policy reforms, strategic investment, and stronger private-sector engagement.
Aligning with National Health Priorities
Looking forward, NIMR is aligning its clinical research agenda with the Federal Government’s Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC).
Through this alignment, the Institute aims to:
- Generate local clinical evidence to support drug, diagnostic, and vaccine manufacturing in Nigeria.
- Strengthen the Centre for Clinical Trials to harmonise multicentre RCTs nationwide.
- Deepen collaboration with NAFDAC, NHREC, PVAC, academic institutions, and the Nigerian Clinical Trial Consortium.
- Build regional research clusters linking universities, teaching hospitals, and private research organisations.
Towards National Health Security
In his conclusion, Dr. Oladele described NIMR’s clinical trial programme as “a cornerstone of Nigeria’s commitment to advancing health through science.”
He reaffirmed that by expanding its research portfolio, reinforcing infrastructure, and aligning with national health innovation priorities, NIMR is helping Nigeria achieve self-reliance in health technology, therapeutics, and evidence-based policy.
“Randomized clinical trials are more than experiments,” he said. “They are the foundation upon which national health security, innovation, and public trust are built.”