On May 20, the world observed World Clinical Trials Day, a moment to recognise the vital role of clinical research in advancing modern medicine. This year’s theme, “Rethinking Clinical Trials: Inclusivity in Practice,” is both timely and pressing. In an article published in The Star, Professor Mansoor Saleh, Chair of the Department of Haematology-Oncology and Consultant Oncologist at Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi, emphasised that for Sub-Saharan Africa—a region marked by immense genetic diversity, a rising disease burden, and historically underrepresented populations—the call for more inclusive clinical research is not just important, but essential. According to Professor Saleh, the vast majority of new treatments, including those for cancer, heart disease, and diabetes, have been developed and tested in Western populations. Fewer than two per cent of clinical trial participants are of African ancestry. This stark disparity raises critical questions about the efficacy, safety, and dosing of these life-saving therapies for African patients, whose genomic profiles differ significantly from those of their Western counterparts.