The University of Oxford has launched the first human trial of a new vaccine designed to protect against Bundibugyo ebolavirus, as scientists race to develop a vaccine for the strain responsible for the ongoing Ebola outbreak.
The Phase I clinical trial will involve 50 healthy volunteers aged between 18 and 55 and will be carried out in Oxford. Researchers will assess whether the experimental vaccine is safe, well tolerated and capable of triggering a strong immune response. Recruitment and health screening of participants have already started, while vaccinations will begin once all regulatory approvals have been granted. Volunteers will then be closely monitored through scheduled follow-up visits.
The vaccine, known as ChAdOx1 BDBV, has been developed by researchers at the University of Oxford’s Oxford Vaccine Group and Pandemic Sciences Institute. It uses the same viral vector technology that was successfully employed in the development of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
The trial comes at a critical time as there is currently no licensed vaccine specifically designed to protect against Bundibugyo ebolavirus, one of the strains that causes Ebola virus disease.
To ensure the project moves quickly, the Serum Institute of India has already manufactured and stockpiled about 620,000 doses of the vaccine candidate within just two weeks. The institute has also supplied 4,000 investigational doses that will be used during the Phase I trial.
The vaccine programme is being funded by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), which has invested US$8.6 million to support the University of Oxford and the Serum Institute of India in accelerating the development of a Bundibugyo Ebola vaccine.
Researchers are also preparing to expand the programme beyond the United Kingdom through additional clinical studies involving the Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Uganda Research Unit, pending regulatory approval.
Professor Teresa Lambe, the study’s Lead Scientific Investigator, said the continuing Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak has highlighted the urgent need for effective vaccines and treatments. She noted that reaching the clinical trial stage just 57 days after the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern demonstrates how international scientific collaboration can significantly speed up responses to emerging disease threats.
Professor Katrina Pollock, Chief Investigator at the Oxford Vaccine Group, described the first-in-human trial as a major milestone in the search for a vaccine against the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola. She said the study will provide crucial information on the vaccine’s safety and its ability to stimulate the body’s immune system, while encouraging eligible volunteers to take part in the research.
CEPI Executive Director for Preparedness and Response, Dr Nicole Lurie, said each step towards developing a safe and effective Bundibugyo Ebola vaccine strengthens global efforts to tackle the outbreak and helps protect communities that remain at risk.
Serum Institute of India Chief Executive Officer Adar Poonawalla said rapid vaccine development relies on preparedness, speed and strong international partnerships. He added that the institute was proud to support the trial by providing vaccine doses for clinical evaluation.
If the vaccine proves to be safe and effective in the initial study, CEPI, the University of Oxford and the Serum Institute of India plan to move to larger clinical trials that could generate the evidence needed for emergency use authorisation or full regulatory approval.
Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention Director General Dr Jean Kaseya welcomed the launch of the trial, describing it as an important step in strengthening the fight against Bundibugyo Ebola. However, he cautioned that while the early-stage trial will not provide an immediate solution to the current outbreak, it lays the foundation for developing vaccines that could save lives during future Ebola outbreaks.
