OUCRU Oxford University Clinical Research Unit

Oxford University Clinical Research Unit in Vietnam (OUCRU) was established in 1991 and is one of the Wellcome Asia Programmes. We are based within the Hospital for Tropical Diseases (HTD) in Ho Chi Minh City, a tertiary referral hospital for infectious diseases in southern Vietnam, under the direction of the Ho Chi Minh City Health Service and the Ministry of Health. OUCRU also maintains a base in the capital, Hanoi, at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases (NHTD), and has satellite research units in Kathmandu (Nepal) and Jakarta (Indonesia).

OUCRU leads a large clinical and scientific research programme focused on infectious diseases of national and global significance. Our work spans clinical research and related disciplines including immunology, host and pathogen genetics, molecular biology, virology, mathematical modelling, bioinformatics, biostatistics, health economics, and epidemiology. This research is supported by an extensive Clinical Trials Unit and a dedicated Data Management Centre. Core areas of focus include:

• central nervous system infections
• opportunistic infections in HIV
• dengue
• tuberculosis
• influenza and emerging viral infections
• malaria
• typhoid and enteric infections
• antimicrobial resistance

OUCRU has established a formal training programme for Vietnamese and international clinicians and scientists in partnership with HTD, NHTD, national universities, and the Health Services. The programme includes training courses for postdoctoral scientists, research clinicians, and medical elective placements. In addition, OUCRU offers internationally registered PhD fellowships.

We are also committed to improving the understanding and communication of science and health within the social, cultural and historical contexts of the communities we serve. Our public engagement team connects researchers with the public by involving communities in the research process and by exploring the motivations and perceptions of participants. Initiatives such as science theatre productions and media writing help foster dialogue and promote awareness of the value and necessity of scientific research.

From Vietnam to the world – 30 years of OUCRU

OUCRU tour - Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi in Vietnam, and Jakarta in Indonesia