INDEPTH has been striving to build on and strengthen the proven capability and resource of its demographic and health surveillance sites to address the question of how population-based surveillance can be used for interventions that address the severe social and health challenges in the developing world. INDEPTH has therefore established a platform that aims at strengthening the scientific and managerial capability in member sites to conduct clinical research based on good clinical practice (GCP), good laboratory practice (GLP) and good data practice (GDP).  Compliance with these standards provides public assurance that the rights, safety and well-  being of trial subjects are protected and that the clinical trial data are credible.

For good trials practice, a clinical research centre in a developing country must have the following characteristics: