Engaged Trials

Clinical trials are essential for developing new health interventions. Yet, when communities are not meaningfully engaged, trials risk misunderstanding, mistrust, and low participation. Engaged Trials aims to change that by co-creating practical, context-specific engagement interventions that place communities at the heart of health research. Engaged Trials is a five-year project initiated in August 2025, funded by UK Research and Innovation, and based in the Health Systems Research Unit at the South African Medical Research Council, in collaboration with the Institute of Development Studies.