Clinical Research Unit of Nanoro (CRUN / URCN)

What Clinical Research Unit of Nanoro (CRUN / URCN) does

The Clinical Research Unit of Nanoro (CRUN / URCN) is a public clinical research institution established in April 2009 under Burkina Faso's Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé (IRSS), itself part of the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique et Technologique (CNRST). Headquartered in Nanoro in the Centre-West region — approximately 85 km from Ouagadougou — with additional offices in Ouagadougou, Siglé, and Temnaoré, CRUN operates under ICH-GCP standards and conducts Phase I–IV clinical trials for malaria drugs and vaccines on behalf of global pharmaceutical sponsors including GSK, Sanofi, Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), and Novartis. Core capabilities span a Clinical Laboratory (chemistry, microbiology, hematology, serology, parasitology), a Research Laboratory with PBMC processing and immunoassays, a Pharmacy unit, Data Management, Logistics, and the Nanoro Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) covering 24 villages and approximately 66,500 residents since 2009.

CRUN's product surface combines clinical trial services, the easyVA verbal autopsy tool developed for rural mortality assessment, and a portfolio of novel diagnostics including the Dragonfly rapid test validated in October 2025 for asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum detection. The unit has executed more than 30 clinical trials under Prof Halidou Tinto's leadership — including the pivotal GSK RTS,S Phase 3 trial that informed WHO policy — and contributed to R21/Matrix-M and RH5/Matrix-M vaccine development. Research output is substantial (70+ peer-reviewed publications from core staff) and the unit holds an OAPI patent on a spectrophotometric method for quantifying antiplasmodic compounds.

CRUN operates as a grant-funded public research institution rather than a commercial enterprise. Its revenue model rests on international research grants from EDCTP, NIH, the EU, and the Wellcome Trust, alongside pharma-sponsored clinical trial contracts; the unit does not sell commercial products and has no published pricing. Customers are global pharmaceutical companies seeking GCP-compliant trial capacity in malaria-endemic settings, international research consortia (EDCTP, INDEPTH, H3Africa), and the Burkina Faso Ministry of Health (PNLP) for epidemiological surveillance. Marketing and partnership development occur through scientific publications, conferences including the biennial Scientific Days of IRSS (JSI), and earned media coverage rather than commercial sales channels.

Name

Clinical Research Unit of Nanoro (CRUN / URCN)

Legal name

Clinical Research Unit of Nanoro (CRUN)

Website

https://crun.bf

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CRUN is a public clinical research institution in Nanoro, Burkina Faso, that runs ICH-GCP-compliant Phase I–IV clinical trials for malaria drugs and vaccines on behalf of global pharmaceutical sponsors, while maintaining a Health and Demographic Surveillance System covering approximately 66,500 residents across 24 villages.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Clinical Research Services

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Medical Laboratories (8071), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Clinical CROs (Phase I–IV) (HLAGAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialty Therapeutic-Area CROs (e.g., oncology/rare disease) (HLAGAAAL), Patient Recruitment, Site Feasibility & Trial Enablement CROs (HLAGAAAI)

Keywords

• Clinical trial services
• Malaria vaccine research
• Epidemiological surveillance
• Health demographic surveillance
• Infectious disease research

Headquarters

HQ city

Nanoro

HQ country

Burkina Faso

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Research Grants and Funding: CRUN operates as a public research institution funded through international research grants, collaborations with pharmaceutical companies (GSK, Sanofi, MMV), and development partners (EDCTP, EU, NIH, WHO). Funding supports clinical trials, epidemiological studies, and training programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CRUN conducts ICH-GCP compliant Phase I–IV clinical trials for malaria drugs and vaccines on behalf of pharmaceutical sponsors and international research consortia. It operates integrated clinical pharmacy, research laboratory, and clinical laboratory services, and maintains the Nanoro Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) covering ~66,500 residents across 24 villages. It also develops and validates research and diagnostic tools (e.g., easyVA verbal autopsy tool, Dragonfly rapid test) and contributes to training African clinical researchers.

Product overview

CRUN is a clinical research organization in Nanoro, Burkina Faso, conducting clinical trials for malaria drugs and vaccines, operating laboratory services (clinical, research, pharmacy, data management), and maintaining a Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) covering 24 villages with approximately 66,500 residents. The organization offers specialized research tools including easyVA for verbal autopsies and has validated the Dragonfly rapid test for detecting asymptomatic malaria infections. Core activities include Phase I-III clinical trials, epidemiological research, and training in clinical research. The organization operates under ICH-GCP regulations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Clinical Laboratory Services Integrated diagnostics services for clinical trials covering Clinical Chemistry, Clinical Microbiology, Hematology, Serology/Immunohematology, Parasitology, Clinical Microscopy, and Public Health testing including water quality and environmental substance analysis. Supports trial participants and broader community health diagnostics.
• Malaria Vaccine Clinical Trials Phase I, Ib, IIb, and III clinical trial services for malaria vaccine candidates including RTS,S/AS01, R21/Matrix-M, RH5.1/Matrix-M, RH5.2-VLP/Matrix-M, and R78C/Matrix-M, with PBMC processing, immunoassays and immune biomarker analysis. Conducted for pharmaceutical sponsors and academic partners under ICH-GCP standards.
• Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) Longitudinal health and demographic surveillance covering 24 villages across 594.3 km² with approximately 66,500 residents under continuous surveillance since 2009, generating epidemiological data for health policy and trial recruitment.
• easyVA Verbal Autopsy Tool A verbal autopsy tool for assessing specific causes of death mortality in rural areas where most deaths occur outside of health centers; developed by CRUN researchers and hosted at easyva.idmod.org.
• Dragonfly Test (Asymptomatic Malaria Detection) A rapid test validated by CRUN to detect asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum infections, supporting improved malaria surveillance in endemic populations.
• Malaria Drug Clinical Trials Phase I–IV clinical evaluation of antimalarial drugs and combination therapies (e.g., Pyramax/pyronaridine-artesunate) conducted with MMV, Sanofi and other partners in endemic populations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Validated the Dragonfly rapid test for detecting asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum infections (October 2025)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GSK (GlaxoSmithKline)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCRUN conducted the pivotal GSK RTS,S/AS01 Phase 3 malaria vaccine trial and continues to run GSK-sponsored vaccine studies. This partnership is central to CRUN's identity and scientific output, with results directly informing WHO policy on malaria vaccination in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCRUN collaborates with MMV on malaria drug development, including evaluations of antimalarial compounds and combination therapies such as Pyramax (pyronaridine-artesunate).
• SanoficoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSanofi partnership includes evaluation of malaria treatments at CRUN's clinical site, contributing to registration of new antimalarial therapies for African populations.
• NovartisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNovartis collaborates with CRUN on ongoing and completed malaria research projects listed on the CRUN website.
• INDEPTH NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCRUN is a member of INDEPTH (International Network for the Demographic Evaluation of Populations and Their Health), contributing HDSS data to a global network of health and demographic surveillance sites across Africa and Asia.
• H3Africa ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCRUN participates in the H3Africa (Human Heredity and Health in Africa) initiative, contributing genomic and epidemiological research data. Palwende Romuald Boua serves as site coordinator for H3Africa projects.
• Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM), Antwerp, BelgiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerITM Antwerp is a key academic partner, providing PhD training (Prof Tinto and others trained there), GCP training, and collaborative research supervision. Several CRUN staff completed training or PhDs at ITM.
• Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLSTM collaborates with CRUN on clinical research and training programs, visible as a partner logo on the CRUN website.
• University of Ouagadougou / Nazi Boni University Bobo-DioulassocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partners providing degree programs, student supervision, and research collaboration. Prof Tinto holds an academic appointment at Nazi Boni University where he teaches clinical trials and parasitology modules.
• WHO / PNLP Burkina FasocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCRUN works with WHO and the Burkina Faso National Malaria Control Program (PNLP) to generate data supporting national and international health strategies. The WHO recognized CRUN's RTS,S vaccine work.
• 1Day AfricaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner/sponsor at the JSI 2024 Scientific Days event, indicating involvement in CRUN's scientific programming and capacity building activities.
• Univers Bio-MedicalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner/sponsor at JSI 2024 Scientific Days, indicating biomedical research collaboration.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• INDEPTH Network: Global network of HDSS sites including CRUN/Nanoro. CRUN's HDSS data feeds into INDEPTH; comparable as an ecosystem partner rather than a direct competitor.
• EDCTP (European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership): Major funder of CRUN and a network of African clinical trial sites. Comparable as part of the broader African clinical research ecosystem and as a key relationship for CRUN's funding pipeline.

Direct peers

• MRC Unit The Gambia at LSHTM: Long-standing West African clinical research unit running Phase I–IV trials with HDSS infrastructure and LSTM ties. Comparable as an African GCP-compliant clinical trial site network with international academic partnerships, though much larger in scale.
• Centre National de Recherche et de Formation sur le Paludisme (CNRFP): Burkina Faso's national malaria research and training center, also a government research institution. Directly comparable to CRUN in mission (malaria clinical trials, GCP-compliant site operations), therapeutic focus, and country footprint, and shares staff overlap (e.g., Innocent Valea previously served as Executive Director).
• Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme (MLW): Sub-Saharan African clinical research programme combining hospital-based clinical trials with population surveillance. Closely comparable to CRUN's combined clinical trial + HDSS model, with Wellcome Trust funding and LSTM partnership.
• Ifakara Health Institute: Tanzanian health research institution running clinical trials and HDSS in Bagamoyo and Ifakara. Comparable as an African GCP-compliant trial site with demographic surveillance and INDEPTH network participation.
• Centre Muraz / Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé (IRSS): Burkina Faso public health research institute that is also CRUN's parent organization (IRSS). Directly comparable in mission, governance structure, and Francophone Africa clinical research scope; Prof Tinto previously served as Scientific Director here.

Emerging players

• Q2 Solutions (IQVIA): Global central/specialty laboratory services provider expanding into African clinical trial lab support. Comparable to CRUN's clinical laboratory function as a competitive threat for lab services bundled with multi-region trials.

Broad incumbents

• Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI): Larger national public health research institute in Kenya with broad infectious disease portfolio. Comparable in mission (clinical trials, HDSS, lab diagnostics) but operates at much larger scale and across more disease areas.
• Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH): European academic center for tropical medicine research with extensive African clinical trial partnerships. Comparable in therapeutic focus (malaria, NTDs) and ICH-GCP clinical trial operations, but with much broader geographic and funding reach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC6UgNaDiUnbyTkzoLHiXlKQ/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/URCN2009
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/crun-urcn

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Clinical Research Unit of Nanoro (CRUN / URCN)