Using images from malaria vaccine trial sites in Africa, this presentation offers a view of the vaccine trial process and also illustrates the improvements in health care technology that may follow from the participation of research centers in such trials.

Enrollment of participants in a vaccine trial in Africa requires a complex process. The process typically involves community meetings, in-person screenings and interviews, physical exams, and a formal consenting process to ensure that the volunteer or responsible caregiver understands both the trial procedures and the potential risks and benefits.

In the case of a “blinded” trial, neither the participants nor those administering the vaccine know who is receiving the candidate vaccine being tested or who is receiving the control vaccine. Using images from malaria vaccine trial sites in Africa, the presentation above offers a view of the process and also illustrates the improvements in health care technology that may follow from the participation of research centers in such trials.