Author: Trang Nguyen

The five-member delegation included Dr Patrick Clarke Reading, Director, and Dr Michelle Wille, Outreach Coordinator, WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza in Melbourne, Australia; Dr Belinda Louise Herring, Technical Officer for Influenza, WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific; and Mr Francis Yesurajan Inbanathan, Technical Office, and Dr Do Thi Hong Hien, Epidemiologist, WHO Vietnam. 

During the visit, Dr Nguyễn Thành Dũng, Director of HTD, and Assoc Prof Lê Văn Tấn, Head of the Emerging Infectious Diseases Research Group at OUCRU, presented key achievements in research, diagnostics, clinical care, and surveillance. HTD has integrated advanced hospital information systems (EMR, HIS, LIS–PACS) to improve decision-making and patient management.  

The institutions also shared their experience working with the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health and the Ministry of Health on national immunisation campaigns, rapid outbreak response, and efforts to strengthen Vietnam’s national surveillance systems.  

Over the past years, OUCRU and HTD have supported the national response to local outbreaks, including COVID-19, Mpox, avian influenza, measles, hand-foot-mouth disease, conjunctivitis, and respiratory infections. In May 2025, OUCRU conducted genomic sequencing of hospitalised COVID-19 cases and identified the NB.1.8.1 variant, reported for the first time in Vietnam. Results were delivered within 24–72 hours, providing critical support for timely surveillance and response. 

Dr Nguyá»…n Thành DÅ©ng emphasised: “At HTD and OUCRU, we are committed to continuous technical advancement, not only to deliver better care, but also to generate research that directly informs diagnostics, treatment, and disease control strategies for Vietnam and the region.” 

Assoc Prof Lê Văn Tấn added: “Collaboration with WHO will help accelerate technology transfer and translation of research into action, particularly in tackling emerging infectious diseases.” 

Following the discussions, the WHO delegation visited the advanced laboratories and research facilities at HTD and OUCRU. The delegation commended the institutions’ research leadership, laboratory facilities and strong collaborative networks. 

“HTD and OUCRU’s cutting-edge capabilities in genomics and the newly developed immunological assays are valuable tools that can support countries in the region in identifying novel and unknown emerging threats,” said Dr Patrick Reading. 

Dr Belinda Herring shared: “OUCRU is a fantastic facility and a great resource for the region. It will be great to link with the institute for training and capacity building opportunities in the future.” 

This visit marks a positive step forward in the collaboration between OUCRU, HTD and WHO, supporting efforts to strengthen regional capacity for infectious disease surveillance and response. 

Dr Ho Quang Chanh is a research physician and honorary clinician at the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, Hospital for Tropical Diseases. Dr Chanh’s research focuses primarily on the clinical aspects of dengue and improving healthcare quality for critically ill paediatric patients.

Through his work, he aims to enhance the management and monitoring of critically ill patients in low and middle-income countries. He is particularly focused on using intelligent technologies and big data to develop personalised treatment strategies. 

Dr Chanh’s appointment as the Head of the Dengue Research Group marks an exciting new chapter for the team at OUCRU, and we look forward to the continued impact of his leadership and innovative research on global health. 

We would also like to acknowledge the remarkable leadership of Assoc Prof Sophie Yacoub, who will step down from her role next month. Dr Yacoub will continue to work closely with OUCRU. We wish her all the best in her future endeavours. 

The event brought together doctors, researchers, and public health leaders from across Vietnam and beyond, highlighting a growing momentum to bring digital innovation into frontline clinical care.

Opening the event, Dr Nguyễn Thành Dũng, the hospital’s Director, underscored how technologies like AI and Big Data can strengthen diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. He also highlighted the importance of bridging clinical practice with advanced technology to enhance the quality of patient care, especially in the field of infectious diseases, which often pose complex and unpredictable challenges.“

OUCRU Director Professor Guy Thwaites echoed this message, stressing the value of locally led research. “Dengue, and many other tropical infectious diseases, isn’t a concern in most high-income countries,” he said. “So if we don’t lead this work, no one else will. That’s the essence of locally driven research.”

He added that while AI is often developed in high-income countries, its most meaningful impact may be in LMICs, such as Vietnam, where the disease burden is high and the solutions must be tailored to local realities. “By working closely with local hospitals like the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Ho Chi Minh city, we ensure theses technologies are not only innovative but also practical.”

The conference featured six focused presentations, including AI tools for clinical workflows, electronic health records to improve patient care, AI-assisted dengue treatment, predictive models for severe tetanus, and AI-integrated ultrasound for muscle monitoring in tetanus patients. These talks highlighted innovation in action and the ongoing challenges of managing infectious diseases. What stood out was the strong connection between research and real-world application; many of these tools are already being tested in Vietnamese labs and the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Ho Chi Minh City.

Attendees also got a hands-on look at some of these tools in action: bedside ultrasound devices, AI-powered wearable risk monitors, and real-time intensive care data systems.

For OUCRU and partners, the conference was more than a showcase of research – it was a reaffirmation of what science should be: collaborative, practical, and driven by the needs of the community it serves. As Vietnam advances with digital health transformation, events like this are a reminder that innovation works best when it’s built from the ground up – with expertise, technology, and compassion working side by side.

The report offers a comprehensive analysis of the country’s clinical research landscape, provides actionable strategies to position Vietnam among ASEAN’s top three clinical trial and R&D destinations by 2030, identifying key opportunities, barriers, and actions to unlock clinical research potential for economic and health impact.

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Attending the launch ceremony were representatives from the Ho Chi Minh City Investment & Trade Promotion Centre, Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, as well as representatives from hospitals, universities, research institutes, and pharmaceutical and healthcare companies.

A vision for Healthcare Transformation Through Clinical Research

Over the past two decades, Vietnam has made sustained investments in expanding healthcare access and strengthening its public health system, achieving universal health insurance coverage for 95% of the population. As the country transitions to higher-quality care, innovation has emerged as a key priority—with clinical trials identified as a strategic pathway forward.

Vietnam has recently intensified efforts to enhance investment and implement policy reforms in this field. Notably, on December 22, 2024, the Politburo issued Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW, which outlines a commitment to developing domestic innovation capabilities and allocating 2% of GDP to R&D.

With a population exceeding 100 million, Vietnam offers vast potential for clinical research. Its diverse population structure is particularly well-suited for studying complex diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disorders, infectious diseases, and metabolic conditions. These inherent advantages are further strengthened by government initiatives to improve the business environment, which are increasingly attracting global pharmaceutical companies and contract research organizations (CROs).

“Clinical trials represent Vietnam’s next frontier for healthcare R&D advancement. From the innovative pharmaceutical industry’s perspective, Vietnam possesses strong potential to emerge as a competitive regional destination for clinical research. Realizing this ambition will require prioritized policies and initiatives that attract and facilitate clinical trial investments—particularly in early-stage trials. Such dedicated efforts and multi-stakeholder collaboration would unlock a multitude of economic, scientific, and health benefits, including: stimulating high-value research activity through infrastructure development and skilled job creation, strengthening Vietnam’s healthcare innovation ecosystem while creating cross-sector economic spillovers, and generating broader healthcare system benefits. This aligns perfectly with national strategies and Vietnam’s goal to become a top-three ASEAN destination for high-value investments. Pharma Group is committed to supporting the Government and healthcare stakeholders in charting the course forward—attracting clinical trials and advancing Vietnam’s R&D capabilities.”

Darrell Oh, Chairman of Pharma Group

Unlocking Vietnam’s Clinical Trials Potential

In addition to opportunities, the report identifies five key challenges Vietnam must overcome: a lengthy and multi-step approval process that can take 6-12 months; limited research infrastructure with only 40 GCP-certified sites nationwide; a shortage of specialized human resources; a lack of structured funding mechanisms; and the absence of strong incentive policies to attract investment into this sector.

The report provides strategic recommendations to position Vietnam as a leading regional clinical trial destination, categorized into policy and non-policy measures with short-, medium-, and long-term implementation timeframes.

According to KPMG estimates, if these reforms are effectively implemented, Vietnam could reach 86 trials with a 24.3% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) and a market value of $749.5 million with an 88.6% CAGR by 2029. This would generate thousands of high-quality jobs, elevate Vietnam’s global standing in medical research and offer early access to cutting-edge treatments.

Policy recommendations focus on regulatory reforms, streamlined approval mechanisms, and investment incentives. Meanwhile, non-policy recommendations address infrastructure improvements, workforce and R&D capability development, dedicated clinical trial support, and public-private partnerships. Each recommendation identifies key stakeholders responsible for implementation and is supported by successful examples from other countries, providing a clear pathway to unlock the full potential of the country’s clinical trial sector.

Notably, to streamline review and clinical trial approval processes, Vietnam should: adopt bilingual documentation for both regulatory and reporting materials to enhance accessibility for international sponsors; implement a centralized online submission and electronic approval system to reduce timelines and eliminate redundancies; and introduce a fast-track pathway for trials already approved by regulatory authorities such as the US FDA, EU EMA, UK MHRA, or Japan PMDA.

To support advanced research, Vietnam also needs to expand its network of Good Clinical Practice (GCP)-certified facilities and establish standardized Clinical Trial Units (CTUs). Critically, the report recommends the establishment of a national Center of Excellence to serve as a platform connecting hospitals, research institutes, universities, and industry, a training hub for clinical researchers, an accelerator for trial approvals and global partnerships – ultimately positioning Vietnam as a competitive clinical research destination.

“The report ‘Roadmap to the Future of Clinical Trials in Vietnam’ represents the culmination of in-depth research, multi-stakeholder dialogue, and a shared vision for the sustainable development of Vietnam’s healthcare sector. We are proud to have partnered with the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit team in developing a comprehensive roadmap for the future of clinical trials in Vietnam. Our joint efforts underscore a shared vision to transform Vietnam’s clinical research landscape. We strongly believe that with the right policy framework and continued multi-stakeholder collaboration, Vietnam is poised to become a leading hub for clinical trials in Southeast Asia, driving sustainable growth and advancing healthcare innovation in the region.”

Luke Treloar, Partner, Head of Infrastructure, Government and Healthcare (IGH), KPMG in Vietnam

“We are confident that Vietnam can significantly enhance its clinical trial capabilities by embracing international best practices as demonstrated by key leading examples like Taiwan, Brazil, Poland, Malaysia, etc. By streamlining regulatory processes, investing in cutting-edge infrastructure, and fostering dynamic public-private partnerships, Vietnam can match global standards in trial efficiency and data integrity. This strategic alignment will not only drive innovation in therapeutic research but also position Vietnam as a regional hub for pioneering life-saving treatments.”

Prof. Guy Thwaites, OUCRU Director