The Clinical Trials Unit at Aga Khan University, in collaboration with the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), convened a two-day symposium on 15–16 May 2026 to advance Risk-Based Clinical Trials across the national research landscape. The event gathered regulators, researchers and industry stakeholders to discuss practical implementation of risk-based approaches and to align priorities for safer, more efficient studies.
Dr. Obaidullah, CEO of DRAP, and Dr. Akhtar Abbas were present at the symposium. In his keynote address Dr. Obaidullah congratulated the Clinical Trials Unit on its designation as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Clinical Trials and reaffirmed DRAP’s commitment to strengthening an ecosystem that supports innovation, collaboration and ethical clinical research in Pakistan.
Sessions focused on proactive monitoring, quality-driven practices and innovative regulatory perspectives, highlighting actionable steps to embed risk-based processes into trial design, oversight and management. Speakers emphasized practical tools for prioritizing risks, improving data integrity and ensuring participant safety while enabling efficient regulatory review.
The symposium provided a forum for knowledge exchange and reinforced a collective commitment among regulators, academia and sponsors to promote high-quality, ethical and risk-focused clinical research in Pakistan. Participants left with concrete strategies to implement risk-based methodologies and to foster continued collaboration across the clinical trial ecosystem.
