Periodic Reporting for period 1 - CCHFVACIM (Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever Vaccine and Immunotherapy)
Reporting period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-06-30
The CCHFVACIM project is an ambitious collaborative effort aimed at developing both prophylactic and therapeutic effective countermeasures against Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever Virus (CCHFV), one of the most threatening vector-borne pathogens, widely distributed, including in the European continent.
Deep structural biology studies on viral glycoproteins and investigation of the immunogenicity of the viral antigens will be combined with optimisation of an mRNA vaccine candidate against the virus and characterisation of the resulting protective immunity, as well as with the development of immunotherapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) based on CCHFV’s antigenic targets.
To achieve the overarching goals, the CCHFVACIM project will build on the success of previous projects such as CCHFever (FP7), CCHFVaccine (H2020) and go the extra mile by initiating a unique One-Health platform strategy to address different aspects of this severe public health threat. On one hand, the project will use several advanced animal models (mice, sheep, and non-human primate) to assess and compare the efficacy of mRNA vaccine candidates, mAbs and therapeutic mRNA; on the other hand, it will establish a biobank from CCHF patients to build up a pipeline for the production of mAbs against CCHFV from their B cells.
Importantly, the project will also contribute to capacity building of European infrastructures, with the establishment of a platform on mRNA-based vaccine at one of the partner institutions.
Ultimately, CCHFVACIM will permit to develop a road map to bring the most efficacious vaccine candidates and immunotherapy tools to clinical trial Phase I in humans.
The project results will be widely disseminated among the scientific community, public health authorities, non-governmental organisations, outbreak management teams, and hospitals, with the final scope of both contributing to contain the burden of CCHF disease and increasing preparedness to new outbreaks.
Deep structural biology studies on viral glycoproteins and investigation of the immunogenicity of the viral antigens will be combined with optimisation of an mRNA vaccine candidate against the virus and characterisation of the resulting protective immunity, as well as with the development of immunotherapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) based on CCHFV’s antigenic targets.
To achieve the overarching goals, the CCHFVACIM project will build on the success of previous projects such as CCHFever (FP7), CCHFVaccine (H2020) and go the extra mile by initiating a unique One-Health platform strategy to address different aspects of this severe public health threat. On one hand, the project will use several advanced animal models (mice, sheep, and non-human primate) to assess and compare the efficacy of mRNA vaccine candidates, mAbs and therapeutic mRNA; on the other hand, it will establish a biobank from CCHF patients to build up a pipeline for the production of mAbs against CCHFV from their B cells.
Importantly, the project will also contribute to capacity building of European infrastructures, with the establishment of a platform on mRNA-based vaccine at one of the partner institutions.
Ultimately, CCHFVACIM will permit to develop a road map to bring the most efficacious vaccine candidates and immunotherapy tools to clinical trial Phase I in humans.
The project results will be widely disseminated among the scientific community, public health authorities, non-governmental organisations, outbreak management teams, and hospitals, with the final scope of both contributing to contain the burden of CCHF disease and increasing preparedness to new outbreaks.
In the first 18 months of operation, the CCHFVACIM project has delivered scientific advances that contribute to strengthen Europe’s preparedness against infectious diseases. We have successfully built the experimental platforms needed to accelerate vaccine discovery, including harmonized pipelines for clinical sample collection, processing, and analysis. These efforts are already generating high-quality datasets and validated assays that will not only guide vaccine development but also serve as valuable tools for diagnostics and epidemiological monitoring.
Our teams have validated two key animal models—a non-human primate model and a sheep model—providing essential capacity within Europe to evaluate vaccines independently of facilities abroad. Alongside this, a safe and validated VLP-based neutralization assay has been established at BSL-2 level, dramatically expanding testing capabilities and enabling broader participation in vaccine research.
Beyond CCHFV, important antigens have been identified for Nairobi Sheep disease virus and Rift Valley Fever virus, opening the door for new vaccine candidates and expanding the impact of the consortium’s work.
Together, these achievements highlight the consortium’s ability to deliver innovative tools, novel insights, and concrete translational opportunities, laying a strong foundation for future breakthroughs in vaccine and therapeutic development.
Our teams have validated two key animal models—a non-human primate model and a sheep model—providing essential capacity within Europe to evaluate vaccines independently of facilities abroad. Alongside this, a safe and validated VLP-based neutralization assay has been established at BSL-2 level, dramatically expanding testing capabilities and enabling broader participation in vaccine research.
Beyond CCHFV, important antigens have been identified for Nairobi Sheep disease virus and Rift Valley Fever virus, opening the door for new vaccine candidates and expanding the impact of the consortium’s work.
Together, these achievements highlight the consortium’s ability to deliver innovative tools, novel insights, and concrete translational opportunities, laying a strong foundation for future breakthroughs in vaccine and therapeutic development.
The CCHFVACIM project has established critical research platforms, including validated assays, harmonized and protocols for clinical samples, within Europe, which together significantly enhance vaccine development capacity and independence. Novel findings, and identification of Nairobi sheep disease antigens and Rift Valley Fever antigens, open new avenues for vaccine and therapeutic innovation. These results create strong potential impacts in preparedness, diagnostics, and vaccine pipelines. To ensure uptake and long-term success, further investment in translational research, demonstration studies, and supportive regulatory frameworks will be key, alongside fostering international collaboration and securing pathways to commercialization and market access.