September 29, 2025

Building Vietnam’s Clinical Trial Future: OUCRU and Partners at the Forefront

On 26 September 2025, leading researchers, policymakers, and international partners gathered in Hanoi for the Workshop on Clinical Trial Opportunities in Viet Nam, co-organised by the World Health Organization, Hanoi Medical University, and the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU). The event marked an important step in strengthening Vietnam’s clinical trial ecosystem, aligning national ambitions with global health innovation.

Prof. Guy Thwaites presenting at the event. Image courtesy of WHO Vietnam

OUCRU, with its long-standing presence and expertise in Vietnam, contributed key insights on lessons learned from international experience in clinical trials. Drawing on more than two decades of partnership with the Ministry of Health and Vietnamese institutions, OUCRU emphasised the importance of collaboration, scientific excellence, and capacity development to ensure that clinical trials deliver maximum benefit for patients and healthcare systems.

Speaking at the event, the UK Ambassador to Vietnam highlighted the vital role of UK partners and the Ministry of Health in advancing clinical research:

“UK institutions such as OUCRU, and global pharmaceutical companies like AstraZeneca, have played a role in advancing R&D and invested hundreds of millions of dollars into clinical research here in Vietnam. Their important work represents the UK’s shared commitment to science, innovation, and above all, better health outcomes for Vietnamese patients… 

Allow me here to acknowledge the leadership of the Ministry of Health, and in particular the Administration of Science, Technology and Training (ASTT)… Its efforts to streamline processes, to ensure that trials meet the highest standards, and to create a supportive environment for international collaboration, have been critical to the progress we celebrate today.”

These remarks echo the central theme of the workshop: the value of strong national leadership combined with international partnerships. ASTT’s role in enabling a supportive research environment has been widely recognised, and OUCRU reiterated its commitment to working closely with ASTT and other Vietnamese partners to expand high-quality clinical trials in the country.

As Vietnam looks to attract a greater share of global clinical research and become a regional clinical trials hub, the collaborative spirit on display at the workshop offers a clear path forward: a robust, internationally connected clinical trial ecosystem that benefits patients, advances science, and strengthens Vietnam’s role as a leader in global health innovation.

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