From Trials to Industry: Building Africa’s Life Sciences Ecosystem | ACRN Podcast EP04

In this episode of the ACRN Health Podcast, host Dr Wilfred Gurupira convenes a roundtable discussion with Prof Collen Masimirembwa (AiBST) and Prof Brighton Samatanga (The Biotech Institute) to explore how Africa can transition from participating in clinical trials to building a sustainable, homegrown life sciences industry.The conversation examines the structural, scientific, and economic foundations required to build a thriving ecosystem, including:• Clinical research as a foundation for industry• The gap between scientific discovery and commercialization• Building and sustaining institutions in Africa• Talent, risk, and the realities of building locally• The role of partnerships and ecosystem thinking• Africa’s competitiveness in the global life sciences landscape• The economic potential of investing in life sciencesGrounded in practical experience and candid reflection, this discussion offers a strategic perspective on what it will take to build Africa’s life sciences future from within.