Greener Trials Wellcome Project

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The Greener Trials project aims reduce the carbon footprint of clinical trials. Funded by the Wellcome Trust, it develops digital tools, such as an open-access carbon calculator, to identify high-emission areas (hotspots) in research and foster sustainable trial practices. The project focuses on behavioral changes, identifying barriers to sustainability, and creating tools to help researchers calculate emissions from trials.

The Project has four main work streams, the details of which can be found below:

Work Stream 4

Team members 

Nandi Siegfried, Chief Specialist Scientist, Mental Health, Alcohol, Substance use and Tobacco Research Unit (MASTRU); South African Medical Research Council. 

Samantha Siva, Research Manager, HIV and other Infectious Diseases Research Unit (HIDRU); South African Medical Research Council. 

Zakir Gaffoor, Research Manager, HIV and other Infectious Diseases Research Unit (HIDRU); South African Medical Research Council. 

Aims

1. To evaluate the Greener Trials toolkitby applying it to a local trial..
2. To Identify local publicly available emission factors for inclusion in the calculator.
3. Identify key role-players working in trials and climate in sub-Saharan Africa; and
4. Establish a sub-Saharan African Working Group of key players, in partnership with the European and Developing Country Clinical Trial Partnership (EDCTP).

Outputs

1. We completed an evaluation of the toolkit for local applicability and adaptability, in a local clinical trial. In doing so, we worked with a local sustainability company to identify available local emission factors.

i) Presentation of initial findings at the London school of hygiene and tropical medicine trials day, 04 November 2025.

 

2) Identification and engagement of key role-players for evaluation of the toolkit:

i) We released an SAMRC Media Statement to relevant role-players in November 2025 and received many expressions of interest.

ii) We have hosted the first of three webinars with interested stakeholders about carbon tracking and the Greener Trials project.

iii) Engagement is ongoing, with plans to establish a community of practise in  in sub-Saharan Africa, for further engagement on the toolkit.

Key partnerships

European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) 

The Green House; TGH Think Space