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Expanding a prospective, clinical trial examining the immune response of participants receiving Modified Vaccinia Ankara vaccine to Africa.

Project description

Strengthening mpox vaccination in Africa

Mpox is a disease caused by monkeypox virus associated with fever, skin lesions and, in severe cases, life-threatening complications. Since 2023, a major outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has led to over 19 000 cases and more than 1 000 deaths. Although a preventive vaccine helped manage the 2022 global outbreak, its long-term effectiveness in women and immunocompromised populations remains unclear. The EU-funded MpoxVax AFRIVAC project aims to adapt an ongoing European vaccine trial to African settings. It will also transfer diagnostic technologies and strengthen regional clinical trial infrastructure to improve outbreak control and public health resilience.

Objective

The current Mpox outbreak affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo, ongoing since 2023, has resulted in more than 19,000 causes and over 1,000 deaths, with women accounting for more than half of those affected. The previous global Mpox outbreak in 2022 was alleviated in part with use of preventive vaccination using modified vaccina Ankara (MVA) vaccine. However, whether this vaccine induces sufficient immune responses in women and those with immunosuppression, which is common in affected areas, and how long vaccine-induced immunity lasts is not well defined. Furthermore, outbreak responses within Africa are also limited by lack of robust diagnostics.

The Mpox AFRIVAC Project will engage with key stakeholders and the community to address these knowledge gaps and capacity limitations by adapting a phase 4 clinical trial of pre-exposure vaccination against Mpox currently underway in Europe to African sites affected by the current outbreak. This will be accompanied by technology transfer to develop Mpox immune diagnostics and knowledge transfer to develop a regional vaccinee-focused Clinical Trials Unit. Together, these activities will address key strategic priorities within the region, address knowledge gaps and significantly contribute to regional capacity and public health response to bring an end to the Mpox outbreak.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

Keywords

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Funding Scheme

HORIZON-JU-RIA - HORIZON JU Research and Innovation Actions

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Call for proposal

(opens in new window) HORIZON-JU-GH-EDCTP3-2024-Mpox

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Coordinator

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND, DUBLIN
Net EU contribution
€ 302 740,00
Address
BELFIELD
4 Dublin
Ireland
Region
Ireland Eastern and Midland Dublin
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost
€ 308 140,00

Participants (5)