The Clinical ResEArch Training fellowship with Industry involVEment (CREATIVE) programme.
PROGRAMME
CREATIVE is a training fellowship programme for early career African scientists. The Fellowship offers Master-level scientific training, a work placement, exposure to industry and opportunities for networking within and beyond the programme. CREATIVE runs from 2026 – 2030, with three-year Fellowships starting in October 2026.
CREATIVE Fellowship programme structure
Programme delivery
CREATIVE is delivered through six integrated work packages, each led by one or more of CREATIVE’s consortium partners.
Work package 1: Scientific leadership
Lead:
Dr Eugene Ruzagira,
UVRI
Responsibility for CREATIVE’s scientific management and governance structures fall within Work Package 1, including: the Consortium Management Group, Strategic Advisory Committee and an end of programme evaluation.
Work package 2: Programme coordination
Lead:
Dr. Shirine Voller
LSHTM
The overall coordination of the CREATIVE programme falls within work package 2. This includes oversight of the project plan, implementing the dissemination, exploitation and communications plan, and developing the data management plan. The coordination of timely and accurate technical and financial reports also falls within this work package.
Work package 3: Academic training and mentorship
Lead:
Dr. David Macleod
LSHTM
Lead:
Prof. Kwaku Poku Asante
KHRC
Lead:
Dr. Thomas Gyan
KHRC
The selection and support of CREATIVE Fellows falls within work package 3. Beyond the initial recruitment and selection of Fellows, this includes developing guidance for host institution mentors to ensure high quality support to Fellows throughout their Fellowship journey and oversight of the mentoring process.
Work package 4: Work placement and integration
Lead:
Dr. Armel Zemsi
MRCG
All Fellows will be embedded throughout their Fellowship within one of the CREATIVE’s six African host institutions. Work package 4 has oversight of these work placements and integration of Fellows work placements with their academic training and industry internships.
Work package 5: Industry engagement
Lead:
Dr. Katharina Kranzer
LSHTM and BRTI
Lead:
Dr. Edson Marambire
BRTI
This work package leads and coordinates strategic engagement with the pharmaceutical industry, clinical research organisations (CROs) and other commercial partners. The aim of this engagement is to create opportunities for CREATIVE Fellows to have exposure to industry in varying formats during their Fellowship.
Work package 6: Network development
Lead:
Dr. Modupe Amofa-Sekyi
Zambart
Lead:
Prof. Nega Assefa
Haramaya University
Activities to develop and sustain a network of CREATIVE Fellows during and after the programme fall within work package 6. This includes establishing mechanisms to ensure regular interaction between CREATIVE Fellows and identifying opportunities to connect with external networks. CREATIVE’s Digital Clinical Training Academy (DCTA) will offer a series of webinars on topics relevant to clinical research and trials that engages all Fellows.