Practical issues in relation to clinical trials in children in low-income countries: experience from the front line

Clinical trials in children in resource-poor environments are essential for local health policy and practice to be relevant and evidence based. Research must be ethical, appropriate, relevant and of good quality. It should, where possible, benefit the subjects studied,the clinical, scientific and support staff involved, and the service and academic institutions of the host country. The challenge for researchers and their sponsors is to maximise such benefits while avoiding the many possible pitfalls.