Our Impact Across Sub-Saharan Africa

What we’ve done

Xcene Research Impact Report 2025

The 2025 Impact Report articulates the impact across the Xcene Research ecosystem, including the Impact Africa Summit (IAS) and the CSR arm (Tess Foundation), with a focus on activities and milestones achieved during the 2025 year in view.

Local Expertise, Global Impact

Xcene Research continues to expand its presence as Africa’s leading Contract Research Organization and health innovation hub.

This year Xcene Research celebrated 10 years of impact, innovation, and unwavering dedication to transforming the clinical research landscape in Sub-Saharan Africa. (2015-2025)

What started as a bold vision to make Africa a central player in global health research has grown into a thriving, multi-country Contract Research Organization (CRO) with multiple business units and subsidiaries positioned to provide quality services and trusted by leading pharmaceutical companies, research institutions, and healthcare stakeholders across the world. From groundbreaking studies and global collaborations to building local capacity and advancing Africa’s voice in clinical development, we are grateful for the journey so far and excited for what lies ahead.

Through it all, our mission has remained to drive high-quality, ethical, and Africa-relevant clinical research that improves lives.

Our Impact So Far, Delivering Results That Matter

For the 2025 reporting year, our operations reflected significant growth, capacity development, and transformative community engagement.

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    Therapeutic areas supported

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    African countries

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Capacity Building and Professional Excellence

Capacity building is a key strategic priority for Xcene Research, leading to the launch of a new flagship initiative and a major training partnership in 2025.

Accelerate IMPACT Program

The Accelerate IMPACT Leadership Program was proudly launched as a flagship initiative designed to advance Xcene’s growth, cultivate professional excellence, and develop the next generation of leaders for the Xcene Health Innovation Companies.

This program is designed to build capacity, nurture talent, and strengthen Africa’s healthcare ecosystem8. It provides participants with opportunities to contribute to Xcene’s strategic direction and pursue leadership pathways.

The program is structured around key components:

  • Accelerate IMPACT – Career Pathways: Equips aspiring professionals in scientific and non-scientific fields with the mentorship and structured guidance needed to thrive in the healthcare and research industry.
  • Strategic Teams (Impact X Project): Focused on solving complex organizational challenges and driving transformative change.
  • Leadership & Innovation Circle: Xcene’s premier think tank, comprising elite leaders who shape the company’s strategic direction and healthcare innovation agenda.

Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) Onboarding

In a move to strengthen clinical research expertise and align teams with international best practices, Xcene Research joined the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) as an Organizational Member. This collaboration provides Xcene teams with access to world-class training and certification programs.

Membership benefits include:

  • Access to 200+ on-demand courses, conference replays, and ACRP Certification exam preparation modules in an Xcene-branded learning environment.
  • Unlimited ACRP contact hours for the maintenance of ACRP Certification.
  • Access to popular courses such as Good Clinical Practice (GCP) ICH E6(R3), Informed Consent Simulation, and Introduction to Decentralized Clinical Trials (DCTs).

Xcene Academy 2.0

  • Regulatory Affairs Internship Program Building Africa’s Clinical Research Capacity. Xcene Academy proudly welcomed a new cohort of pharmacists into the Regulatory Affairs Internship Program, an immersive, mentorship-driven experience powered by Xcene Research with over a hundred participants.
  • Hosted over 140 participants in the Research and Laboratory Internship program in the second quarter of 2025

Webinars

  1. Understanding Apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) Mediated Kidney Disease: Mechanisms, Current Research and Opportunities for Participation in Clinical Trials with over 70 HCPs in attendance.
  2. Conversations with Black Pharma on the topic “Thriving through Change: Pharma Partnerships in Africa”
  3. Principal Investigator Stakeholders meeting, with over 100 participants in attendance.
  4. Advocacy Stakeholders Meeting… March 20th, 2025

Research and Trial Impact

Conference Impact Stories: Advancing SCD Trials

At the 5th Global Congress on Sickle Cell Disease (GCSCD2025) and 20th Annual Sickle Cell & Thalassaemia Conference (ASCAT2025) conferences Xcene Research presented its framework and milestones for conducting Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) trials in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Key operational milestones and impact in SCD trials include:

  • Successfully managing 8 SCD trials and counting.
  • Initiation of multi-site SCD Trials in 5 African countries.
  • Achieving a 95% retention rate across all trials, a result of dedicated community engagement initiatives.
  • Training and leveraging 130+ Xcene team members across various departments to support and execute trials.
  • Strengthening local capacity by identifying SCD centers of excellence and local accredited laboratories for sample analysis.

Drug Discovery

We launched our drug discovery pipeline and services under Xcene Research. We are committed to transforming the clinical research landscape for SCD in sub-Saharan Africa. By centering our processes on patient needs, cultural context, and ethical rigor, we are not only advancing science but also empowering communities through continued collaboration with sponsors, governments, and local stakeholders to sustain and scale these efforts.

Innovation Impact

Innovation has been crucial to overcoming operational bottlenecks and strengthening our clinical trial infrastructure in 2025.

Clinical Trial Management System (CTMS)

Launch and integration of our CTMS technical partnership with Oracle Clinical to serve more trials in sub-Sharan Africa.

Genescor App for Patient-Centric Care

The Genescor app serves as a major innovation to support patient recruitment and retention in trials. Its features include:

  • A Telehealth Portal for remote consultations with specialists like hematologists and genetic counsellors.
  • An SCD Community Hub for peer support, health education, and advocacy tools for families and patients.
  • A Clinical Trial Matcher, an AI-powered tool to identify and enroll eligible patients in ongoing trials.
  • A Smart Symptom Tracker providing real-time alerts and medication reminders.

Xcene Laboratory Diagnostics (XLD)

To address the critical issue of laboratory quality and logistics (where over 60% of critical clinical trial findings can be lab-related), Xcene Laboratory Diagnostics (XLD) is coming on board to cater to genomic and molecular research across 10 therapeutic areas and reare diseases.

  • XLD will reduce the reliance on shipping samples abroad.
  • This state-of-the-art infrastructure will ensure sample integrity by reducing the time from collection to analysis.
  • It will cut costs for both local researchers and international sponsors and make sample collection easier with satellite labs across the country.

Xprecruiter: The Digital Catalyst for Equitable Access

Another significant intervention is Xprecruiter, an innovative digital platform designed and pioneered by Xcene Research to overcome the structural limitations of patient recruitment in Africa.

Xprecruiter is designed to seamlessly connect patients, medical professionals, and patient advocacy groups with research opportunities.

Xprecruiter’s Impact How it Solves the Problem
Expands Reach & Awareness Broadens the patient pool beyond traditional sites, directly countering geographical barriers and reaching rural areas.
Empowers Patients Xprecruiter offers a convenient, accessible way for individuals to learn about trials relevant to their conditions, countering Low Health Literacy.
Facilitates Collaboration It creates a cohesive digital ecosystem, enabling researchers and advocacy groups to partner efficiently on ethical recruitment.

Social, Education, and Community Impact (Tess Foundation)

The Tess Foundation (TTF Africa), Xcene Research’s CSR arm, executed targeted public health initiatives throughout 2025.

Initiative Quarter Impact
I-Gene Life Sciences Foundation Career Talk 2.0 Q1 Inspires the Next Generation of more than 500 life sciences at the University of Lagos.
International Women’s Day Medical Outreach Q1 In collaboration with the Rose of Sharon Foundation, successfully conducted a comprehensive medical outreach and awareness campaign at the Alayabiagba Model Market with over 200+ women beneficiaries in Lagos.
Back-to-School Initiative Q1-2 2025 Impacted four public schools in Lagos State. Provided essential learning materials and academic support. Delivered a short-term mentorship program by volunteers to improve student performance and school retention.
HepaCare Initiative Q3-4 2025 Advanced public health objectives in Ogun State through targeted hepatitis awareness campaigns and HPV screenings for 300 people. Facilitated timely intervention through immediate medical referrals for individuals who tested positive.
Project Empower a Warrior 4.0 Q4 Powered by the CrimsonBow Sickle Cell Initiative, Xcene Research sponsored PEW in our continuous drive to support and empower warriors, celebrate talents, and create lasting impact in the sickle cell community.

National and Continental Conferences and Impact (SCD: African Scientific Symposium and Impact Africa Summit – IAS)

  • The Inaugural Sickle Cell Disease African Scientific Symposium, organized by Xcene Research brought together a diverse community of scientists, clinicians, policymakers, advocates, and industry leaders, all united in conversation to accelerate progress in sickle cell disease research and care across Africa.With the theme “The Impact of Phytomedicine and Local Research on Sickle Cell Disease in Africa,” the conference was a rallying cry and a firm declaration that Africa’s medical and research professionals are ready to lead. From groundbreaking presentations on emerging therapies to panel discussions on strengthening clinical trial infrastructure to collaborative networking sessions that sparked new partnerships. The SCD African scientific symposium was a testament to the power of what is possible when purpose-driven action follows informed discussion, for which Xcene Research continues to lead the charge toward this new reality.
  • The Impact Africa Summit (IAS) is Xcene Research’s flagship event and continues to drive critical conversations around clinical trials and pharmaceutical trends. The 6th Edition of the IAS is scheduled for November 20th–22nd, 2025. With the theme “Integrating African Voices: Strengthening capacity in Clinical trials through Local engagements and Global partnerships across Sub-Saharan Africa”. The summit is aimed at taking conversations to greater heights by bringing together speakers for the conference, symposiums, workshops and panel sessions to build on the momentum of previous years.

Upcoming Events:

  • Impact Africa Summit 20th-22nd November 2025
  • Sponsors Meeting 13th December 2025 (Briefing Session) January 9th and 23rd and February 6th and 20th 2026 (Virtual meeting)
  • Charity Event 17th December