Innovative Research Research Articles

ISPAD ANNUAL CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS 2023.

The 49th Annual Conference of the International Society of Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD), held from October 18 to 21, 2023, in Rotterdam, Netherlands, showcased significant advancements and diversity in paediatric and adolescent diabetes research and clinical innovations. The conference, renowned for its global impact, brought together experts to discuss cutting-edge developments in the field. Highlights from the plenary sessions included ground-breaking research on immunotherapies and diabetes technologies and offering new insights into personalised treatment approaches. Keynote speakers emphasised the importance of early diagnosis, prevention and the potential of novel biomarkers in predicting disease progression. The symposia covered a broad spectrum of topics, from advancements in continuous glucose monitoring technologies to the latest in hybrid closed loop systems which promise to revolutionise diabetes management for young patients.

The narrative crisis model of suicide as a framework for suicide prevention

The Narrative Crisis Model of Suicide (NCM) is an iterative, dynamic, diathesis-stress model that conceptualizes individuals’ progression to suicidal behavior through the incorporation of four distinct and successive stages. The NCM strives to reflect a paradigm change in the prevention of suicide: rather than assessing individuals’ suicide risk and categorizing them along different risk levels based on their self-reported suicidal ideation at a given time, the NCM proposes to assess psychological vulnerabilities and processes characteristic of critical milestones in the progression from chronic factors to acute suicidal mental states. As a comprehensive model, the NCM provides an empirically grounded conceptual framework for intervention at each stage of the psychological progression towards suicidal action. In this article, we propose stage-specific treatment modalities, moving progressively from acute to chronic risk. Such treatments would first target the acute Suicide Crisis Syndrome (Stage 4), the subacute suicidal narrative (Stage 3), deficits in stress management (Stage 2), and finally long-term risk factors/trait vulnerabilities (Stage 1). Although future research is needed to establish the optimal combination and sequence of empirically-supported interventions, the NCM may be a useful framework to guide innovations in clinical intervention and research.

Rapid eye movement sleep and epilepsy: exploring interactions and therapeutic prospects.

While research interest in the relationship between sleep and epilepsy is growing, it primarily centres on the effects of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep in favouring seizures. Nonetheless, a noteworthy aspect is the observation that, in the lives of patients with epilepsy, REM sleep represents the moment with the least epileptic activity and the lowest probability of having a seizure. Studies demonstrate a suppressive effect of phasic REM sleep on interictal epileptiform discharges, potentially offering insights into epilepsy localisation and management. Furthermore, epilepsy impacts REM sleep, with successful treatment correlating with improved REM sleep quality. Novel therapeutic strategies aim to harness REM's anti-epileptic effects, including pharmacological approaches targeting orexinergic systems and neuromodulation techniques promoting cortical desynchronisation. These findings underscore the intricate relationship between REM sleep and epilepsy, highlighting avenues for further research and therapeutic innovation in epilepsy management.

INNOVATION AND PRODUCTIVITY RESEARCH IN THE LAST FIVE DECADES: A BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS

Purpose: This study aims to reveal research trends by revealing the evaluation in this field by making a holistic analysis of academic studies that have examined the concepts of innovation and productivity in the last five decades. This analysis aims to reveal the general structure of academic studies that deal with the concepts of innovation and productivity. Methodology: Articles searched in the ‘‘Social Science Citation Index (SSCI)’’, ‘‘Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED)’’ and ‘‘Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI)’’ in the ‘‘Web of Science (WoS)’’ database, researching innovation and productivity together between 1980-2023. It was analysed and mapped using the VOSviewer 1.6.19 software and manual methods. Co-occurrence Keyword Analysis, Document Co-citation Analysis and manual analysis methods were used in the mapping. Findings: This study reveals how research in innovation and productivity has developed over the last five decades and what trends it has. It has been determined that the most published areas are Economy, Management and Business. The most frequently used keywords were found to be "innovation", "productivity", "research-and-development", "growth", "performance" and "impact". The most published topics on a cluster basis are "impact", "innovation and productivity", "growth", "research and development" and "performance", respectively. In the document co-citation analysis, it was determined that the publication in which all publications were linked included the study titled "Research, Innovation and Productivity: an econometric analysis at the firm level", published by Crépon et al. (1998). This information can be a valuable resource for future research and policy-making and can be used to drive innovation and productivity progress. Originality: While the study is the first and only content analysis to reveal the combined trends in this field by examining the "innovation and productivity" studies together, it is thought that the results obtained can guide researchers and professionals.

Improving risk governance strategies via learning: a comparative analysis of solar radiation modification and gene drives

AbstractStratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) and gene drive organisms (GDOs) have been proposed as technological responses to complex entrenched environmental challenges. They also share several characteristics of emerging risks, including extensive uncertainties, systemic interdependencies, and risk profiles intertwined with societal contexts. This Perspective conducts a comparative analysis of the two technologies, and identifies ways in which their research and policy communities may learn from each other to inform future risk governance strategies. We find that SAI and GDOs share common features of aiming to improve or restore a public good, are characterized by numerous potential ecological, societal, and ethical risks associated with deep uncertainty, and are challenged by how best to coordinate behavior of different actors. Meanwhile, SAI and GDOs differ in their temporal and spatial mode of deployment, spread, degree and type of reversibility, and potential for environmental monitoring. Based on this analysis, we find the field of SAI may learn from GDOs by enhancing its international collaborations for governance and oversight, while the field of GDOs may learn from SAI by investing in research focused on economics and decision-modeling. Additionally, given the relatively early development stages of SAI and GDOs, there may be ample opportunities to learn from risk governance efforts of other emerging technologies, including the need for improved monitoring and incorporating aspects of responsible innovation in research and any deployment.

Ferroptosis: a new mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine for treating ulcerative colitis.

This review summarizes the experimental studies on the targeted regulation of ferroptosis by TCM and its impact on UC in recent years, aiming to provide theoretical basis for the prevention, treatment, and further drug development for UC. Ferroptosis disrupts antioxidant mechanisms in intestinal epithelial cells, damages the intestinal mucosa, and participates in the pathological process of UC. TCM acts on various pathways such as Nrf2/HO-1 and GSH/GPX4, blocking the pathological progression of ferroptosis in intestinal epithelial cells, inhibiting pathological damage to the intestinal mucosa, and thereby alleviating UC. The diverse array of TCM single herbs, extracts and herbal formulas facilitates selective and innovative research and development of new TCM methods for targeting UC treatment. Although progress has been made in studying TCM compound formulas, single herbs, and extracts, there are still many issues in clinical and basic experimental designs, necessitating further in-depth scientific exploration and research.

Advancing diagnostics and disease modeling: current concepts in biofabrication of soft microfluidic systems

AbstractSoft microfluidic systems play a pivotal role in personalized medicine, particularly in in vitro diagnostics tools and disease modeling. These systems offer unprecedented precision and versatility, enabling the creation of intricate three-dimensional (3D) tissue models that can closely emulate both physiological and pathophysiological conditions. By leveraging innovative biomaterials and bioinks, soft microfluidic systems can circumvent the current limitations involving the use of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), thus facilitating the development of customizable systems capable of sustaining the functions of encapsulated cells and mimicking complex biological microenvironments. The integration of lab-on-a-chip technologies with soft nanodevices further enhances disease models, paving the way for tailored therapeutic strategies. The current research concepts underscore the transformative potential of soft microfluidic systems, exemplified by recent breakthroughs in soft lithography and 3D (bio)printing. Novel applications, such as multi-layered tissues-on-chips and skin-on-a-chip devices, demonstrate significant advancements in disease modeling and personalized medicine. However, further exploration is warranted to address challenges in replicating intricate tissue structures while ensuring scalability and reproducibility. This exploration promises to drive innovation in biomedical research and healthcare, thus offering new insights and solutions to complex medical challenges and unmet needs.

Radical and incremental innovations performance in Eastern European SMEs: An empirical study of developed and emerging economies

Assessing the effectiveness of radical and incremental innovation in SMEs in Eastern European countries is a significant issue in regional economics. In contrast, radical innovation entails the creation of wholly novel goods or organization processes that establish new markets. Progressive enhancements to current goods and processes are referred to as incremental innovation. This study explains the influence of incremental and radical innovation on performance of small and medium-sized enterprises in Eastern Europe. Employing EUROSTAT data from 2012 to 2021 using regression analysis and a graphical model, we examined basic, radical, and incremental innovation and total researcher performance in SMEs, which could enormously affect business performance in Eastern European countries. Our findings indicated that radical, incremental innovation and total research are all favourably related to the performance of SMEs and an approach to studying various innovations and their impact on SMEs. The particular performance effects of radical and incremental innovations in Eastern European SMEs might vary considerably. To give more specific knowledge and suggestions for SMEs, empirical investigations and comprehensive research are required. Our results can contribute to SMEs both theoretically and practically, providing fresh theoretical perspectives for scholars and helpful management consequences for administrators of SMEs in developing countries.

Defining social innovation for post-secondary educational institutions: a concept analysis

Education, research, and contribution to society through innovation are the three missions of post-secondary educational institutions. There is a gap in understanding the concept of social innovation for post-second educational institutions. A clear definition would: (a) guide institutional strategic direction and supports, (b) recognize and reward academic research in social innovation, and (c) enable accurate measurement of outcomes and impact of social innovation activities. To redress the definitional imprecision, Walker and Avant’s method was used to conduct a concept analysis of social innovation. Four multi-disciplinary databases were searched to identify 1830 records. Antecedents, defining attributes, and consequences of social innovation were extracted from 272 of these articles. Defining attributes were reconstructed to develop a new definition. For post-secondary educational institutions, social innovation was defined as the intentional implementation of a transdisciplinary initiative to address a social challenge enabled through collaborative action leading to new or improved capabilities and relationships with community to generate evidence-informed solutions that are more effective, efficient, just, and sustainable. With greater clarity about the definition of social innovation, post-secondary educational institutions can create strategic plans and allocate resources to fulfil the Third Mission. With an evidence-informed definition, post-secondary educational institutions can develop a measurement framework to demonstrate outcomes and impacts of social innovation.

When does social media promote firm innovation? The moderating role of strategic flexibility

Despite a considerable body of innovation research focusing on social media, the influence of this factor on firm innovation remains uncertain. To address this research gap, we investigate how social media applications impact the exploitative and exploratory innovation of firms as well as the moderating effect of strategic flexibility in this context. We find that social media application exhibits a positive relationship with exploitative innovation and an inverted U‐shaped relationship with exploratory innovation. We also find that resource and coordination flexibility have moderating effects on the relationships between social media application and both exploitative and explorative innovation. Our study contributes to the literature by explicating the effects of social media on firm innovation and makes important and practical contributions to our understanding of how social media can be effectively used to promote innovation.

The division of rare diseases research innovation at the national center for advancing translational sciences, NIH: mission, history, and current research activities

The mission of the NCATS Division of Rare Diseases Research Innovation (DRDRI), formerly known as the Office of Rare Diseases Research, is to advance rare diseases research to benefit patients. DRDRI is part of the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, one of the 27 components of the US National Institutes of Health. DRDRI facilitates and coordinates NIH-wide activities involving rare diseases research, as well as directly supporting rare diseases research activities. These activities include the development and maintenance of a centralized database on rare diseases; collaboration and coordination with organizations focused on orphan products development and rare diseases research across the globe, advising the Office of the NIH Director on matters related to NIH-sponsored research involving rare diseases; and responding to information and policy requests about rare diseases within the NIH. DRDRI also supports various rare diseases research activities, including the Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network, rare disease-related conference grants, and assessment of the costs of untreated rare diseases. In addition, several of the projects DRDRI is supporting are “many diseases at a time” translational approaches for rare diseases, which emphasize leveraging commonalities across multiple rare diseases. These include the support of “basket trials” based on shared molecular etiologies across multiple rare diseases, as well as therapeutic platforms for the treatment of monogenic diseases, such as gene therapy and genome editing. This Perspective will provide an overview and summary of these various activities, noting where relevant our collaborative partnerships within the U.S. and internationally.

Physician justification for anti-cancer treatment decisions in the evolving oncology market.

e23317 Background: Oncology is a rapidly expanding pharmaceutical space, driven by innovative research and clinical technology. Continued growth in anti-cancer therapy has generated an exceedingly competitive market. As treatment options increase, physicians must weigh a variety of factors to make individualized care decisions. Many elements are patient-specific, but physician biases may also impact selection. As the market evolves, it is unknown whether oncology providers will shift priorities to align with contemporary findings or continue to trust in historical experiences. Methods: The Ipsos Global Oncology Monitor is an online, multi-center medical chart review of oncology patients receiving drug therapy. Over 1,900 cancer-treating physicians in the United States were screened for seniority and caseload and submitted data on 253,051 cancer patients (aggregate; all tumor types) between January 2020 to December 2023. Upon record submission, physicians were prompted to select up to three responses most associated with the reason for prescribing the reported therapy. Responses were chosen from a finite list of closed-ended options. Results: Influence of “Approved Standard of Care” fell amongst sampled physicians, cited as a reason for selecting treatment in 61% of reported annual patients in 2023, declining by 2.94 percentage points since 2020. “Biomarker results” recorded increased influence on therapy selection, rising in association with 8% of reported patients in 2020 to 11% in 2023. Within tumor-specific cohorts, “Maintain/improve quality of life” was a notable reason for drug therapy decisions in both breast and colorectal cancer patient subsets in 2023 (10% and 19% respectively). Contrary to the overall patient cohort, drug therapy choice for reported prostate cancer patients has increasingly shown association with “Approved Standard of Care” (53% in 2020 to 60% in 2023). Conclusions: Results of this study highlight the evolution of factors influencing anti-cancer treatment decisions in sampled physicians. Sampled providers appear to be shifting away from universal treatments, as shown by lowered association with “Approved Standard of Care”. Sampled physicians seem to be opting for specific therapies, demonstrated by rising influence of “Biomarker results”. Discrepancies between tumors merit expansion of research in rarer indications and emphasize the importance of diagnostic testing to continue improving quality of care. Further investigation using comparator cohort is warranted.

Innovations in science education: A bibliometric exploration of trends and future directions

This article carries out a bibliometric research review to present the evolving landscape of innovations in science education. The study acknowledges the dynamism of the contemporary educational practices and uses the bibliometric analyses for identification of trends, assessment of impacts of scholarly outputs, and mapping the future directions in the field of science education innovation. Starting with a review of the standard bibliometric indicators, e.g., citation analysis and co-authorship, the review lays down the theoretical basis for the understanding of the scientific impact of the innovations in science education. The analysis, moreover, consists of identifying thematic foci and emerging topics through keyword mapping, which together present a holistic picture of the intellectual map of the field. The review points to seminal works and trends, demonstrating the nature of interdisciplinarity in research in science education innovation. By the analysis of collaborative networks and research hotspots the research not only demonstrates the present status of the field, but also predicts its future directions, which could help researchers and educators at the same time. Also, as a retrospective tool, the article explores the general relevance of bibliometric insights for educators, administrators, and other researchers. It highlights the application of bibliometrics in evidence-based decision-making, curricula design and international collaboration, because it is common knowledge that it can trigger the great revolution in innovative science education. This bibliometric review generates useful outcomes, which are beneficial to academic discussions and provide guidelines for future research efforts as a key reference for researchers who would like to have a deep, general overview of the innovations in science education.

Answering tough questions: Why is qualitative research essential for public health?

Qualitative research is a crucial approach to uncovering the nuances of public health behaviours and useful insights for effective policies and interventions. We highlight key contributions and innovations of qualitative research as it pertains to public health knowledge and practice, particularly in the time of COVID-19 post-pandemic recovery.

CancerX Data Sprint: Advancing national oncology data standards through a unique public-private partnership.

e23283 Background: In a concerted effort to enhance the quality, accessibility, and effectiveness of comprehensive real-world cancer datasets, CancerX, a public-private partnership announced by the White House recently conducted a demonstration project, the CancerX Data Sprint. CancerX Data Sprint attempted a novel approach to quickly inform collective efforts of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI), the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) to advance cancer-related data standards. Specifically, at the intersection of CMMI’s Enhancing Oncology Model (EOM) and the development of ONC’s United States Core Data for Interoperability (USCDI+) – Oncology extension, CancerX leveraged its unique model and broad membership to report novel insights to advance data-driven innovations in oncology research, care, and policy. Methods: From Sept to Dec 2023, the Data Sprint convened 150+ member organizations from industry and government partners to 1) Identify the high-value research questions that could be asked about the standardized real-world data (RWD) generated through EOM 2) Supplement the existing data elements with new ones to extend and enhance the ability to conduct scientific, clinical, and research inquiries with comprehensive datasets. The CancerX community opined via surveys, written feedback, and live workshops to identify key data elements, discuss their clinical value and technical feasibility, and consider their use in real-world settings as part of the comprehensive datasets. Results: Building on the current EOM clinical data elements, we identified and reported 15 new clinical data elements for considerations with high clinical utility and ease of technical abstraction. This comprehensive RWD encompasses a diverse range of patient demographics, clinical details, treatment histories, and outcomes, creating a more accurate and inclusive portrayal of cancer treatment effectiveness and patient journeys. This depth of information is crucial for optimizing the personalization of treatment pathways, conducting impact assessments, and addressing healthcare disparities. Essentially, the new datasets serve as a valuable repository of insights, driving advancements in cancer research, treatment and elevating care quality. Conclusions: CancerX remains committed to supporting federal data initiatives like USCDI+ Cancer standards development and others by providing recommendations for essential data elements implementation to enhance clinical utility, technical feasibility, and exchange of standardized cancer data. By adopting a unique approach and assembling an interdisciplinary group, we can ensure that data standardization efforts prioritize high-utility data elements, ultimately maximizing benefits for our patients.

Innovation at the Board Level: Bibliometric Analysis over Three Decades

Abstract This study aims to investigate the evolutionary path of the relationship between innovation and board research knowledge over the past thirty years. Its objective is to understand the scientific activity and influence of current research in this field. Furthermore, it aims to outline current theme trends and provide suggestions for future study in this field. This research is a quantitative exploration that involves analyzing an intellectual framework within the field. Using a bibliometric methodology, we carefully chose 184 papers from the Scopus database that are specifically focused on innovation at the board level. These studies were then subjected to thorough examination. The utilization of VOSviewer software enabled the clear and concise representation of the outcomes. The bibliometric study involved identifying research themes, current and future directions, co-occurrences, co-citations, impact, and collaboration tendencies. The methodological framework has four consecutive stages: data acquisition, data examination, data representation, and data interpretation. The data demonstrate a noticeable increase in scholarly interest, especially in the past three years, suggesting a growing field of study. Four main areas of research were identified: the relationship between board diversity and its effect on the innovation process; the interaction between board culture and the effectiveness of innovation; the impact of board structure on innovation; and the growing emphasis on green innovation influenced by boards of directors. The methodology of this study recognizes the complex relationships between innovation and the overall setting of the board of directors, providing useful insights for both academic research and practical decision-making in the field of company performance.

Innovative Design and Experimental Research of the Patient Transfer Apparatus for MRI Room

Background: Patient Transfer Apparatus (PTA), which has been reported by various relevant papers and patents, is widely used in the hospital. However, there are few corresponding transfer apparatuses for research and development in the nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) room because of the influence of a high magnetic field environment. It is desired to require the apparatus for the patient and the medical staff to have weak magnetism, high matching, and easy operation, etc. Objective: The purpose of this study is to find out the working principle of PTA, to conduct parameter optimization and design and develop more effective PTA for the application of the MRI room. Methods: Firstly, based on the patient transfer process, a novel transfer model with the coordinated movement of the transfer belt and the moving panel is proposed, the corresponding clutch mechanism is conceived and the working principle of the whole mechanism movement is designed and analyzed in detail. Secondly, the force analysis of the clutch mechanism, lifting mechanism and patient transfer mechanism are performed, the mechanical structures are optimized, and the optimal sizes are obtained. Thirdly, the mechanical structure of the system is designed in detail, and the prototype is manufactured. Results: Finally, the performance evaluation of the system is conducted by means of the fuzzy evaluation method and clinical study. The results showed that the motion function of the apparatus is reasonable and it can work normally in the MRI room, the comfort of the PTA is also excellent. The research results also prove the accuracy of the working principle and the rationality of the structural design. Conclusion: The non-magnetic PTA is suitable for quickly transferring patients who are unable to move in the MRI room of a hospital by the manual method.

Effect of centralized volume-based procurement of drugs on business performance of listed pharmaceutical enterprises

Since March 2018, China has conducted five rounds of negotiations for the inclusion of drugs in the medical insurance system and implemented eight batches of centralized drug procurement. The role of the medical insurance department as a strategic purchaser in the pharmaceutical market has been continuously strengthened, playing a crucial role in controlling the unreasonable growth of medical expenses and reducing the economic burden on patients. The policy of centralized drug procurement, by exchanging quantity for price, can significantly reduce drug prices and lower the profit level of companies. However, being included in the centralized drug procurement catalog can bring a substantial and stable market share to the winning companies. Therefore, the impact of the centralized drug procurement policy on the operational performance of winning companies and how their business decisions should be adjusted remain to be thoroughly explored from both theoretical and empirical perspectives. To assess the impact of the centralized drug procurement policy on the operational performance of companies, this study takes publicly listed pharmaceutical manufacturing companies from 2016 to 2020 as the sample and conducts empirical analysis using methods such as difference in difference (propensity score) matching (PSM-DID). The results showed that the centralized volume-based procurement of drugs policy had a significant negative impact on the business performance of bidding listed pharmaceutical manufacturing companies, indicating that the increase in the sales of bidding drugs could not fully make up for the profit loss caused by the price reduction in the short term. Pharmaceutical manufacturing companies should further adjust their market competition strategies, actively engage in research and development innovation. The government should guide pharmaceutical companies to improve their operational performance while ensuring the quality of drug supply by optimizing the supporting innovative incentive policies in the centralized drug procurement policy.

A Review on Integration of Precision Medicine in Oncology Practice

Oncology, the medical specialty focused on cancer study, diagnosis, and treatment, has experienced remarkable progress over the years. The introduction of chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy has broadened treatment possibilities, yet the field continues to face significant challenges. Precision medicine, also known as personalized medicine, has emerged as a transformative approach in this complex environment. It offers innovative strategies for disease prevention and treatment by considering individual genetic, environmental, and lifestyle differences. A leading trend in precision oncology is the formulation of personalized treatment plans based on the distinct genetic and molecular characteristics of each patient's tumor. The evolution of precision medicine in oncology has been driven by technological advancements such as genomic sequencing technologies, high-throughput screening, bioinformatics, targeted therapy, liquid biopsy, CRISPR and gene editing, and the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning. These innovations have significantly influenced cancer treatment, enabling more precise and effective interventions. This article examines the critical technological developments propelling precision medicine forward and assesses their impact on oncology. It also explores the essential steps required to integrate precision medicine into clinical practice, addressing the challenges and advantages associated with its adoption. Integrating precision medicine into oncology promises to enhance the accuracy of diagnoses, improve treatment outcomes, and reduce adverse effects by tailoring interventions to individual patient profiles. This review discusses the importance of continued research and technological innovation in realizing the full potential of precision oncology

Advancing inclusive research (AIR) in Africa: Strengthening healthcare systems to enhance access on the continent through the Africa AIR site alliance model.

e13778 Background: While Africa makes up 17% of the total world population, it has 24% of the global disease burden. Furthermore, although Africa is rich in genomic diversity, Africans make up <4% of the patients in global pharma studies and 1% of the global genomic database. In 2020 there were only 63 African patients in Roche global clinical trials. The Africa AIR Site Alliance model was undertaken to address the growing importance of interventional clinical trials with advanced diagnostics and therapies in Africa, as well as the lack of representation of the African population in global datasets, which contribute to continued health disparities, poor outcomes and existing inequities. Methods: In countries with a legal research framework, no clinical trial holds and who have conducted at least 1 Roche clinical trial during the last 5 years potential Centers of Excellence for the Africa AIR Site Alliance were identified. For patients, sites had invoiceable services to ensure they were supported and could potentially include education about clinical trial participation, reasonable travel and accommodation, or covering the cost of missed work or childcare. Sites participated in training on how to conduct clinical trials, including opportunities to share best practices across sites. Results: Four pilot countries were selected and had Centers of Excellence identified to work as partners with Roche for global clinical trials: Morocco (Marrakech University Hospital Center), Nigeria (University College Hospital Ibadan), Kenya (University of Nairobi Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases) and South Africa (Limpopo Cancer Research Institute). After entering the Africa AIR Site Alliance, sites reported consistent application of standard operating procedures and manuals, trained and empowered staff, increased organization and appropriate patient support, plus knowledge and experience with industry trials. Sites are successfully participating in an increased number of global clinical trials in various therapeutic areas with 23 patients enrolled at the Africa AIR Site Alliance sites in oncology and ophthalmology studies. Conclusions: The Africa AIR Site Alliance model is a groundbreaking initiative that has the potential to revolutionize clinical research in Africa with a positive long-term impact on the African healthcare ecosystem and clinical care delivery. Limited diversity and representation in genomic, safety and efficacy data have hampered scientific and medical progress on the continent. The Africa AIR Site Alliance provides critical support, knowledge and skills for conducting clinical trials and assists in removing barriers for underrepresented patients to participate in these trials. Future work will focus on expanding to additional countries in Africa and creating a robust network of Centers of Excellence for innovative research.