The Howard University Clinical Trials Center of Excellence (COE) was established in 2021 through the Novartis US Foundation’s Beacon of Hope Initiative to address health disparities through community‑based clinical research.

The COE focuses on conducting Good Clinical Practice–compliant clinical trials, publishing high‑quality research findings, and building sustainable research capacity through workforce training and infrastructure development.

Howard’s mission has been, and continues to be, to increase participation of Black/African American individuals and other communities of color in clinical trials. The COE serves underrepresented and underserved populations across the Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) region, while also supporting faculty, investigators, and trainees at Howard University.