British research teams are at the forefront of a global effort to develop three separate Ebola vaccines, as fears grow over a potential outbreak in central Africa. The projects, based at the University of Oxford and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, have received emergency funding from the UK government and the Wellcome Trust.
The first candidate, developed by the Jenner Institute at Oxford, uses a modified chimpanzee adenovirus to deliver Ebola proteins. Early clinical trials have shown robust immune responses in volunteers. The second, led by Imperial College London, employs a self-amplifying RNA platform designed for rapid production. The third, a collaboration between the University of Cambridge and Public Health England, uses a novel multi-epitope approach to target multiple strains of the virus.
Dr. Sarah Gilbert, professor of vaccinology at Oxford, said the accelerated timeline was possible because of existing infrastructure from the COVID-19 vaccine programme. “We have the platform technologies and the regulatory pathways already in place. What we lack is the manufacturing capacity for a rapid response in Africa,” she said.
The World Health Organization has designated the Ebola situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo as a “high risk” event. A cluster of cases in a remote province has raised concerns about cross-border transmission. The WHO has requested that vaccine developers prioritise licensure and stockpiling.
Critics argue that the focus on vaccines neglects basic public health measures. “Vaccines are not a silver bullet,” said Dr. Michael Odhiambo, a public health specialist in Nairobi. “Surveillance, contact tracing, and safe burials remain the backbone of any Ebola response.”
The UK government has pledged £50 million for vaccine development and deployment. A spokesperson for the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office said the funding was part of a “strategic commitment to global health security”.
The three vaccines are expected to enter phase III trials by the end of the year. If successful, they could be available for emergency use in 2026.
