The Research Preparedness Program for East and Central Africa (RPECA) is a multi-region, multi-country initiative led by PATH as the initial Technical Coordinating Partner (TCP), in collaboration with CEPI, Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and regional stakeholders. RPECA is designed to strengthen regional clinical research ecosystems to catalyze the ability to efficiently and effectively conduct Good Clinical Practice-compliant late-stage vaccine trials and to support the rapid generation of emergency evidence in the context of infectious disease outbreaks.

Technical Coordinating Partner (TCP)

PATH is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to achieving health equity. It develops and scales innovative solutions—spanning science, technology, advocacy, and partnerships—to address the world’s most pressing health challenges. As part of establishing RPECA as a longer-term research preparedness program and in alignment with key stakeholder goals and country priorities, PATH will be leading the identification and selection of an Africa-based co-TCP to ensure regional ownership and sustainability.

RPECA partners include:

Africa CDC is a continental autonomous health agency of the African Union. Its mission is to strengthen the capacity and capability of Africa’s public health institutions and partnerships to detect, prevent, control, and respond quickly and effectively to disease threats and outbreaks. This is achieved through evidence-based policies, programs, and interventions.

 IQVIA is supporting CEPI as a global service provider and provides technical expertise to CEPI's partners. IQVIA is a global leader in health information technologies, clinical research, and data analytics. IQVIA provides services and solutions that advance medical research, improve patient care, and drive healthcare innovation.