Global Health Trials Unit
Conducting rigorous clinical trials to transform global health
The Global Health Trials Unit (GHTU) at LSTM is a specialist research unit that designs, conducts, and delivers high-quality clinical trials in the majority world.
We provide comprehensive statistical, epidemiological, and methodological expertise to support life-changing research that addresses the world’s most pressing health challenges. Working across diverse settings, we ensure trials are conducted to the highest international standards while being contextually appropriate and locally relevant.
Many promising health interventions fail to reach the communities that need them most due to inadequate trial design, implementation challenges, or a lack of robust evidence from real-world settings. This evidence gap particularly affects populations in the majority world, where the disease burden is highest but research infrastructure may be limited.
Well-designed, ethically conducted clinical trials are crucial for generating the evidence necessary to enhance global health outcomes. GHTU bridges this gap by providing world-class trial expertise specifically tailored to low-resource settings, ensuring that research not only meets international standards but also addresses local health priorities and builds sustainable research capacity.
Our research focus and approaches
We deliver comprehensive trial design and management expertise
At GHTU, we provide end-to-end support for clinical trials, from initial concept through to publication and policy impact. Our multidisciplinary team combines deep methodological expertise with extensive experience in low-resource settings, ensuring trials are scientifically rigorous, ethically sound, and operationally feasible.
We specialise in complex, multi-site trials, adaptive designs, and innovative methodologies that maximise impact while minimising the burden on participants and healthcare systems.
We build sustainable research capacity in partner countries
Beyond delivering individual trials, we are committed to strengthening research ecosystems in the majority world through knowledge transfer, training, and long-term partnerships. We work closely with local institutions to develop research infrastructure, train local investigators and staff, and establish systems that support ongoing research excellence. This approach ensures that our collaborations create lasting benefits for partner communities and contribute to global research equity.
We ensure trials translate into real-world impact
Our commitment extends beyond trial completion to ensuring findings reach policymakers, healthcare providers, and communities. We provide comprehensive support for results dissemination, policy engagement, and implementation science to maximise the real-world impact of research investments. Working closely with national health systems, international organisations, and community stakeholders, we help translate evidence into improved health outcomes.
Our team
Professor Tom Fletcher
Tom Fletcher is a Professor of Emerging and High Consequence Infectious Diseases, and Director of the Global Health Trials Unit at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM).
Professor Feiko ter Kuile
Professor ter Kuile’s main research interest is the epidemiology of malaria and the evaluation of new interventions for the for the control of malaria in children and pregnant women.
Charlotte Rawcliffe
Charlotte Rawcliffe is an experienced clinical research professional with more than 20 years expertise in the design, management, and delivery of complex clinical trials.
Our impact
We have supported over 50 clinical trials across multiple continents
GHTU has provided methodological and operational support for more than 50 clinical trials spanning infectious diseases, maternal and child health, noncommunicable diseases, and health systems interventions. Our trials have enrolled participants across Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and other regions, generating robust evidence that has informed WHO guidelines, national treatment policies, and clinical practice in dozens of countries.
We have trained hundreds of researchers in clinical trial methodology
Our capacity building efforts have directly trained researchers, clinicians, and research staff in good clinical practice, trial methodology, data management, and research ethics. Many of our trainees now lead their own research programmes, creating a multiplier effect that extends GHTU’s impact far beyond our direct involvement in trials.
