The new Bagamoyo Research and Training Unit specializing in clinical trials for novel antimalarial drugs and vaccines was inaugurated by the Tanzanian Prime Minister, the Honorable Edward Lowassa, on 10 May 2007.

Medicines for Malaria Venture was one of the lead organizations that supported the establishment of this facility - the others include the Malaria Vaccine Initiative (MVI) and the Malaria Clinical Trials Alliance (MCTA). MMV provided Bagamoyo with equipment such as Haematology and Biochemistry analysers, microscopes, freezers and computers to make it fully functional. The site now has the capacity to conduct GCP compliant clinical trials for drug and vaccines.

The RBx/MMV05-06 clinical trial was the first study to be conducted and completed at this site. Two other MMV trials are ongoing involving Coartem® Dispersible and Chlorproguanil Dapsone Artesunate (CDA).

MMV welcomes the establishment of this facility and congratulates Dr Salim Abdulla, Director of the Bagamoyo Research and Training Unit, IHRDC, for taking the initiative to start and complete this project. The Bagamoyo Unit will be a key site for future MMV development progammes.