The Global Health EDCTP3 Joint Undertaking announces new Executive Director

Today, Dr Michael Makanga has been confirmed as the new Executive Director of the Global Health EDCTP3 Joint Undertaking (Global Health EDCTP3).

Dr Makanga, a clinician-scientist with nearly thirty years of health and clinical research experience in African and European organisations, will lead the Joint Undertaking’s work to deliver new solutions to reduce the burden of infectious diseases in sub-Saharan Africa and to strengthen research capacities to prepare and respond to re-emerging infectious diseases.

Dr Michael Makanga said:

"I am honoured and enthused to join Global Health EDCTP3 as its Executive Director. Building on the efforts made by the previous EDCTP programmes, I am certain that the Joint Undertaking is well-positioned and has the capacity to grow stronger and become an established player in the global health research arena. I look forward to working with all our partners to achieve our common goals and provide solutions for those who need them most”. 

Marc Lemaitre, Director General for the Directorate General of Research and Innovation at the European Commission, said:

“We are very pleased to welcome Dr Michael Makanga as the new Executive Director of the Global Health EDCTP3 Joint Undertaking. I am confident that with his in-depth experience and vision, this research partnership with Africa will achieve its objectives to develop critical health technologies to combat infectious diseases”.

Since its launch in 2021, Dr Elmar Nimmesgern, an experienced official of the European Commission, has been acting as interim Executive Director of Global Health EDCTP3. Dr Elmar Nimmesgern will continue to lead the organisation until Dr Michael Makanga takes up his duties on 16 November 2023.

Background information

The Global Health EDCTP3 Joint Undertaking invests in global health through funding collaborative research and innovation projects tackling infectious diseases and supporting activities for research capacity building in Africa. Information on the Global Health EDCTP3 annual strategy and funding opportunities can be found in the dedicated annual Work Programmes.

The Executive Director has a central role to play in Global Health EDCTP3 as the responsible person for the day-to-day running of the organisation. The Executive Director will manage the administrative, operational and financial measures necessary for the proper implementation of the annual Work Programmes and other budgetary and strategic decisions. More information on the tasks of the Executive Director can be found in Council Regulation 2021/2085 of 19 November 2021 establishing the Joint Undertakings under Horizon Europe, in particular Article 19.

As to what it concerns Dr Makanga, he is a clinician-scientist with nearly thirty years of health and clinical research experience in African and European organisations. He has a medical Degree from Makerere University, a Master’s and PhD in Pharmacology and Therapeutics from the Liverpool University and School of Tropical Medicine and is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. He has vast experience in global health, research for health capacity development, engagement with policy makers, ethics and regulatory authorities and is currently the Executive Director of the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) Association.

More information

European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP)

Global Health EDCTP3 Joint Undertaking

Eleventh EDCTP Forum

EU Global Health Strategy

Twitter account: @EDCTP3