WHO launches free course on ethical and high-quality clinical trials

Medical students/ File: Tego Insurance

Eligibility

• Suitable for individuals with little or no hands-on experience in clinical trials
• A basic theoretical understanding of trial design and research concepts is expected
• Open to a wide audience, including:
  • Professionals
  • Non-professionals (e.g., patient advocates, community representatives)

Program benefits

• Completely free and available online
• Self-paced learning format
• Provides practical knowledge on:
  • Ethical conduct of clinical trials
  • Proper trial design
  • Effective implementation and oversight
• Includes real-world case studies and interactive modules
• Based on WHO global standards and guidance
• Helps improve:
  • Evidence-based decision-making
  • Health policy development
  • Public trust in science

Fields of study

• Clinical Trials
• Public Health
• Biostatistics and Data Management
• Research Ethics
• Epidemiology and Medical Research

Required documents

• No specific documents required
• Only registration on the platform is needed

Eligible courses

• Main course:
  • “WHO Good Practices for Clinical Trial Design and Implementation”
• Consists of 9 modules
• Takes approximately 4.5 hours to complete

How to apply

• Register on the World Health Organization Academy online platform
• Enroll in the course and start learning
• Complete all modules and achieve at least 80% on the final assessment

Which courses are covered by the scholarships?

• No scholarship is required because:
  • The course is already free of charge
• It is openly accessible without financial support

Assessment & certification

• A final assessment is required at the end of the course
• Minimum 80% score to pass
• Upon completion, participants receive:
  • Confirmation of Participation certificate
• Note:
  • This certificate is not a formal professional qualification

Additional information

• Currently available in English only (other languages planned)
• Based on WHO’s 2024 clinical trial guidance
• Structured around five key principles:
  • Scientific quality
  • Ethical standards
  • Participant protection
  • Relevance to public health needs
  • Practical application in real-world settings