London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

It is not unusual for individuals to have a deep passion that stems from personal experiences. For myself, coming from Uganda where the cases of HIV infections and cancers have escalated from 2013 to date, this has had a big influence on my determination to make a difference in my community through clinical research.  

My passions

My passion for clinical trials was born during my internship as a student biotechnologist in the HIV Vaccine trials in Uganda. I developed such great admiration and appreciation for all clinical trialists around the world who are committed to improving patient outcomes through clinical research. What fascinated me the most was the thrill of knowing what I was learning ould help revolutionise HIV and cancer care in the future. Sharing ideas in board rooms, finding ways to maximise treatment effectiveness, celebrating every little milestone and sharing the same hope with all study participants, warmed my heart. How I loved the idea of someday becoming a clinical trialist and a bridge between scientific innovation and impact! 

At the end of my undergraduate studies, my career in the biopharma industry began. My experience as a pharmaceutical microbiologist has been awesome. The younger version of Charlotte, who dreamed of becoming a clinical trialist, did not give up on her dreams. I knew that more than anything, I wanted to transition into a clinical research-based career, which would be my personal contribution to improving healthcare, not only in Africa, but globally.  

Studying at LSHTM: Learning from faculty & fellow students

As of now, what was once a dream, is becoming my reality, thanks to the MSc in Clinical Trials at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Words fail me at describing how surreal starting my MSc in October 2024 felt. Once I enrolled on the LSHTM Clinical Trials degree, I hoped for a globally relevant programme that would lay a foundation upon which I would build a hugely successful career in clinical research, and I have not been disappointed. If anything, I have been granted a far better experience than I had hoped. What sets the programme apart is how immediately applicable it is. I have learned how to use the STATA software, which I now use in my day-to-day activities, and I have been well equipped in project management, critical thinking, as well as writing and reviewing scientific literature.   

I have gained a tremendous amount of knowledge on the fundamentals of clinical trials from the programme staff, but also from my fellow students.

An eye-opening experience

The LSHTM Clinical Trial’s student body is a very dynamic team, ranging from biotechnologists like myself, pharmacists, doctors, software programme managers, statisticians, quality assurance personnel and clinical researchers. This makes going through the study material very interesting, because when questions arise, we all approach the questions with such unique and diverse perspectives. I initially imagined I would need to put in extra effort into learning this programme considering my experience was predominantly in the pharma industry, but I have had such a wonderful experience thus far. The assignments we have had all mirror the challenges Africa’s healthcare system faces. One memorable case-based example was the “Mwanza HIV prevention trial”, which helped me rethink how I can influence improvement in the ethical, scientific and regulatory design and conduct of trials in Africa.  

LSHTM has opened me up to an international network of clinical trialists, including fellow students, the staff at LSHTM and LSHTM alumni; relationships that I believe will last beyond our time of study, and possibly bud into future collaborations. This will set us all up to become globally impactful clinical trialists.  

As we celebrate Clinical Trials Day, I am reminded of the strength in collaboration and the great impact of men and women who dedicate themselves each day to improving healthcare.  

I am grateful for the educators at LSHTM, colleagues and mentors who have not only inspired me, but also guided my journey so far, and even more excited for what lies ahead.  

Cheers to the Trials that challenge us, and the breakthroughs that follow!

• Learn more about Clinical Trials Day.
• Contact Charlotte via our student and alumni ambassadors page.
• More from Charlotte: Overcoming challenges studying remotely
• Study with LSHTM from anywhere in the world. Discover Clinical Trials by Distance Learning.