CoMeCT
About CoMeCT
The COMECT (COordination MEchanism for Cohorts and Trials) project is a three-year initiative (2023–2026) funded by the Horizon Europe programme. It aims to unify European clinical research by bridging adaptive platform trials (APTs) and cohort studies (CSs) to ensure better preparedness for future infectious disease outbreaks.
CoMeCT's mission is to strengthen Europe's clinical research preparedness and response to infectious disease outbreaks with epidemic potential by facilitating strategic and scientific coordination of APTs and cohort studies. Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic have shown us that, without such coordination, there are several risks resulting in:
- Fragmentation of research, with multiple small trials studying the same interventions in similar populations, resulting in inconclusive outcomes due to insufficient patient data or samples. This leads to wasted resources.
- Increased risk of studies without sufficient statistical power to generate high quality clinical evidence.
- Research gaps in the exploration of specific patient groups or intervention types at various disease stages.
- A lack of or delayed adoption of improved study designs, methodologies, and practices.
- Limited visibility of individual APTs and CSs to broader stakeholders, creating a disconnect between research focus, findings, and public health policies.
- Insufficient consideration of the interventions entering trials at various phases.
As the number of APTs and CSs continues to grow, there is an increasing need for ongoing mapping and prospective coordination of these clinical studies to maximise impact and avoid duplication of efforts.
Ecraid's Role
Ecraid is beneficiary in CoMeCT, contributing to the project's efforts to strengthen collaboration and harmonisation across Europe's clinical research landscape.
The project brings together key stakeholders to improve coordination between Adaptive Platform Trials (APTs) and Cohort Studies (CSs) focused on infectious diseases with epidemic or pandemic potential. Within CoMeCT, Ecraid supports the mapping of APTs and CSs and contributes to the development of governance approaches that facilitate collaboration across studies and networks.
Ecraid is also involved in efforts to establish a framework for outbreak clinical research response and to promote harmonised practices in trial operations, data use, and methodological innovation.
In addition, Ecraid contributes to the project’s communication and dissemination activities, including the organisation of monthly Communications Working Group meetings that help align partners and share progress across the consortium.
Through these activities, Ecraid supports CoMeCT’s broader goal of strengthening Europe’s readiness to generate high-quality clinical evidence rapidly during future infectious disease outbreaks.
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