CAMBRIDGE, MA (June 25, 2026)—The Gates Medical Research Institute (Gates MRI) has entered into an expanded, strategic collaboration with IQVIA, a leading global provider of clinical research services, commercial insights and healthcare intelligence to the life sciences and healthcare industries, to streamline trial operations and accelerate its clinical portfolio.

Gates MRI and IQVIA have had a long-term collaboration to support clinical trial implementation. This expanded collaboration allows the two organizations to deepen their partnership and more fully integrate their clinical development operations teams across a wide scope of services, especially to center functions in Africa and Asia, where their research efforts are underway.

“By shifting to a partnership-driven model, Gates MRI aims to increase agility and become a more effective sponsor of clinical trials focused on the urgent health needs of low-income countries,” said Krishnan (Krish) Ramanathan, PhD, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Gates MRI. “IQVIA’s well established operational presence across Africa and Asia will enable faster study execution and support a sustainable infrastructure in these regions.”

Gates MRI’s mission is to develop novel biomedical interventions addressing substantial global health concerns of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) for which investment incentives are limited. IQVIA will provide operational delivery of local clinical and laboratory operations, data management and analytics, and Gates MRI staff will provide strategic oversight and direction. By leveraging the local network provided by IQVIA and focusing on engaging and further building talent in LMICs, this partnership will help narrow the innovation gap between high and low-income countries while accelerating the development of and improving access to innovative therapies.

IQVIA has an extensive history supporting public health initiatives and developing capacity of health systems across Africa and Asia including global research preparedness and outbreak response, and extensive engagements with local and regional institutions, sites and investigators.

“As the world’s largest clinical research services provider, we take seriously our responsibility to advance clinical research and global health across the world,” said Brian O’Dwyer, IQVIA’s President of Global Clinical Development. “With our unmatched capabilities and footprint in Africa and Asia, we are excited to broaden our relationship with Gates MRI as we bring novel medical solutions to the communities depending on us.”

“This partnership with IQVIA is a first step by Gates MRI toward building a sustainable engine with local research and development experts and early engagement with regulators,” said Patrice Matchaba, MD, a Gates MRI Board Member and former Gates MRI CEO. “Improving the ability of communities most affected by diseases to meaningfully engage in R&D efforts produces better innovations, earlier registration, and access to life saving medicines more quickly.”

Gates MRI has completed nine clinical trials to date and is currently sponsoring several clinical trials, including a global Phase 3 trial of the TB vaccine candidate M72/AS01E, which has enrolled 20,000 participants in five countries in Africa and Asia.