Research Roundup: Preeclampsia R&D funding, Bundibugyo vaccine trial support, TB vaccine underperforms in trial

Last Thursday, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that, with support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, it will allocate 70,000 doses of an approved Ebola vaccine to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which is facing the largest Ebola outbreak in the country’s history. The vaccine, Ervebo, targets Ebola Zaire, the most common Ebola strain, not the Bundibugyo strain behind the current outbreak—for which there are no approved vaccines —but early laboratory and animal data suggest it may provide some cross-protection. Twenty thousand doses will be used in a Phase 3 trial to evaluate whether the vaccine offers cross-protection for Bundibugyo, while the remaining doses will be allocated to frontline health care workers, serving the dual goals of providing some protection for at-risk populations against severe illness and death during the current outbreak while gathering critical data to inform use of the vaccine in future Bundibugyo outbreaks.Researchers at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research have developed a rapid blood test that could improve detection of iron deficiency, a widespread health challenge disproportionately affecting mothers and children in low-resource settings where access to conventional laboratory-based screening methods are limited. Using a finger-prick blood sample, the test provides results within 15 minutes without the need for specialized laboratory infrastructure and highly trained health care providers. It has demonstrated strong correlation with gold-standard laboratory methods used in high-income countries and includes a built-in reference line to make the results easier to interpret. The test is currently undergoing evaluation in sub-Saharan Africa.The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) shared last week that it will dedicate $4.17 million to four research projects designed to assess whether additional vaccines currently or previously licensed against Ebola Zaire could offer some cross-protection against severe illness and death during the current rapidly growing outbreak of Bundibugyo Ebola. Specifically, the funding will go to teams at the University of California, Los Angeles in the United States; the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Belgium; the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom; and the MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research in the United Kingdom. The research teams will use blood samples from vaccinated individuals to assess immune responses and potential cross-reactivity of antibody responses, helping establish and standardize antibody tests for Bundibugyo, inform interpretation of clinical trial results, and guide future strategies. These research initiatives will support trials during the current outbreak and complement ongoing efforts to develop Bundibugyo-specific vaccines. 

On August 19, Cosette Audi joined GHTC as our new US Policy & Advocacy Officer. GHTC’s Deputy Director Marissa Chmiola and Communications Coordinator Hannah Sachs-Wetstone sat down with Cosette to find more about her and her interests. 1. What first sparked your interest in the field of global health research and development (R&D) advocacy, and what inspires you about this line of work? In my first job, at the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, I advocated to increase the inclusion of pregnant women and children in research. This work really opened my eyes to the persistent challenges that slow the development of new technologies to diagnose, treat, and prevent diseases—especially for people living in low resource settings. I am really inspired by the potential scientific breakthroughs that we could see in the next decade. More effective vaccines, better tests, shorter courses of treatment—all of these things are possible with continued investment in global health R&D. I feel lucky to do my small part to help make these lifesaving tools a reality.  2. What drew you to GHTC?In both my previous roles, I have been at organizations that are GHTC members and have loved working with the coalition to advance global health R&D. I’m excited to now be a member of the team! 3. As you begin your role, what are you most excited to contribute and learn at GHTC?I am eager to learn from the expertise of GHTC’s members. One of my favorite things about being an advocate is translating complex technical jargon into something clear and understandable for policymakers. I look forward to really getting “in the weeds” of R&D. 4. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time outside work?I love to read, craft, and go to the movies with my husband.