Trials and Triumph: Clinical Research Chronicles
September 2025 Edition
Welcome Message
Dear Readers,
Welcome to the September 2025 edition of Trials and Triumph: Clinical Research Chronicles. This month, we spotlight a theme at the cutting edge of science and public health: Artificial Intelligence in Clinical Research: Promise, Pitfalls, and Progress.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic concept, it is already being integrated into how we design, run, and analyse clinical studies. From improving patient recruitment to powering diagnostic tools, AI holds enormous promise. But as with any innovation, we must remain alert to its risks, ensuring that equity, transparency, and ethics remain at the heart of research.
We also bring you highlights from the IVON-PP Trial Close-Out and the Steering Committee Meeting of the CAPREMAN project — two milestones that mark CCTRIS' continued leadership in maternal and newborn health research.
We hope you enjoy this edition!
Phase I & II Clinical Trial Lead, CCTRIS-UNILAG
Artificial Intelligence in Clinical Research: Promise, Pitfalls, and Progress
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer science fiction, it's quietly reshaping the way we live, work, and even care for our health. Clinical research is no exception. Across the world, AI is stepping into trials and studies in powerful ways:
The Promise of AI
Smarter Recruitment: helping match eligible participants faster and more efficiently
Real-Time Monitoring: devices powered by AI, such as intrapartum monitoring tools, are improving patient safety during labour.
Data at Scale: machine learning is uncovering patterns in massive datasets that humans could easily miss.
Faster Discovery: AI is accelerating the search for promising new medicines
The Pitfalls and Challenges
But with every breakthrough comes a reminder of the challenges:
- Bias: if AI is trained on non-diverse data, it can widen existing health gaps
- Trust: people need to be confident their data is used responsibly
- Oversight: regulation is still catching up with the speed of technology
The Path Forward
For African research institutions like CCTRIS, AI is not just a tool to adopt; it's an opportunity to lead. When African populations are represented in datasets, when we build strong local data science capacity, and when ethics are placed at the centre, AI can drive equity rather than exclusion.
"The future of clinical research is not about replacing researchers with machines. It's about equipping researchers with smarter tools — while keeping humanity at the centre of science."
Events & Spotlight
Three Years, 1,400 Women, One Goal: Reducing Post-Partum Anaemia. (Trial Closeout and Dissemination Ceremony)
The trial titled "Intravenous ferric carboxymaltose versus oral ferrous sulphate for the treatment of moderate to severe postpartum anaemia in Nigerian women (IVON-PP)" was set out to tackle one of the critical maternal health challenges in Nigeria; postpartum anaemia.
After three years of groundbreaking work, the IVON-PP Trial has reached its conclusion. The IVON-PP Trial enrolled 1,400 postpartum women across 20 sites in Lagos, Kwara, Kano, and Rivers States, aiming to generate evidence for safer and more effective ways of treating postpartum anaemia.
Why does this matter?
Anaemia is a major contributor to maternal health complications and a significant cause of morbidity and mortality globally, especially in low and middle-income countries. By providing high-quality, locally relevant evidence, the IVON-PP Trial brings us closer to solutions that can transform maternal care in Nigeria and beyond.
The Close-out Ceremony and Dissemination Meeting, taking place in Abuja on 16 October 2025, will serve as a platform to:
- Highlight the Trial's contributions to shaping maternal and newborn health policy
- Share the key findings from three years of research
- Engage policymakers on pathways for integrating the evidence into national guidelines.
The close-out is more than a formality, it is the bridge between science and policy, ensuring that the lessons of the IVON-PP Trial move from data to impact, for women across Nigeria.
Spotlight: Dr. Opeyemi Akinajo at Goalkeepers 2025
We are proud to celebrate Dr. Opeyemi Akinajo, one of our emerging research leaders, who attended the Gates Foundation's Goalkeepers 2025 Event in New York.
At this gathering of global changemakers, Dr. Akinajo shared insights on how CCTRIS and partners are leveraging Artificial Intelligence in maternal and newborn health including real-time monitoring during labour to improve outcomes for mothers and babies.
Her voice at this global stage reflects the rising impact of young African scientists and affirms CCTRIS' mission to shape health innovations that resonate locally and globally.
Research Highlight
SPEC-AI Trial – Smarter Screening for Maternal Health
The SPEC-AI Trial is breaking new ground in Nigeria by bringing Artificial Intelligence (AI) into maternal health research.
Phase I of the study has already shown the promise of using AI to detect risks such as preeclampsia and peripartum cardiomyopathy earlier than traditional methods. Building on these results, the Trial is now moving into Phase II, expanding its reach and refining the technology to make it even more reliable and adaptable for real-world use.
What makes this work especially exciting is how advanced the AI tool is becoming. It's not just flagging risk factors, it is also beginning to predict biological age from health patterns, giving researchers and clinicians a new window into maternal wellbeing. This could help identify women whose bodies are under more strain than their chronological age suggests, allowing for earlier interventions and more personalised care.
The SPEC-AI Trial is proof that innovation doesn't only come from outside Africa. Here in Nigeria, we are shaping how the next generation of AI-powered health tools can serve women and families where the need is greatest.
Did You Know?
🤖 Did you know? In 2022, the U.S. FDA reported that nearly 60% of drug development programs used AI at some stage of design or analysis. Yet, fewer than 10% included significant data from African populations — highlighting why local leadership in AI research is critical to building tools that work for our communities.