Groundbreaking IDRC-supported vaccine trial is launched for the Sudan Ebola virus

In a global first, the vaccine trial was set up in just four days after the outbreak was confirmed on January 30, 2025. This was possible due to advanced research preparedness and extensive collaboration among Uganda’s health workers, global partners and hundreds of scientists. A research project jointly funded by IDRC, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Public Health Agency of Canada paved the way for the grantee, WHO, to co-implement the trial with Uganda’s Ministry of Health and Makerere University.
The current recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus candidate vaccine was donated by IAVI and also funded by WHO, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and the European Commission’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority, and supported by Africa CDC. This candidate vaccine has already undergone the necessary phase 1 and 2 clinical trials to ensure its safety and immunogenicity.
The vaccine is now being tested to assess clinical efficacy — a crucial step toward combating future outbreaks. While no licensed vaccine exists yet for Ebola Sudan, the trial could be a game changer in the fight against this Ebola strain. This is a major step forward for pandemic preparedness, and potentially a model of preparedness for future outbreaks of other infections.
Strengthening Africa’s health systems remains crucial for early outbreak detection, rapid response and effective containment of pandemics. Investing in health infrastructure, workforce training and supply chains ensures access to life-saving treatments while preventing economic and social disruption. In parallel, investing in locally led social science and preparedness research is essential for bridging gaps by encouraging creativity, informing policy and facilitating the adoption of new vaccines and technologies. Resilient health systems not only protect Africa but also strengthen global health security against future pandemics.
As part of its ongoing engagement in pandemic preparedness, IDRC is hosting its third (hybrid) roundtable on understanding the private sector’s role in catalyzing Africa’s vaccine innovation ecosystem on March 4, 2025. It will be held at the 6th Africa Health Agenda International Conference 2025 in Kigali, Rwanda. Online participation will be free. Registration is available here.