Volunteers sought for new Ebola vaccine trial

Oxford University has begun recruiting volunteers for clinical trials of a new vaccine designed to combat the bundibugyo variant of Ebola, which is driving the current outbreak in Congo-Kinshasa. The university announced the recruitment drive on July 19, 2026.

The experimental vaccine is built on the same technological platform as the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, which is credited with saving millions of lives globally. Researchers aim to enroll 50 healthy adults aged 18 to 55 for the trial. Participants will receive the vaccine and be monitored for one year, though researchers expect to gain significant insights into its efficacy within weeks.

This marks a significant step as it is the first potential vaccine against the bundibugyo variant to reach this advanced stage of development. The outbreak in Congo-Kinshasa has resulted in nearly 900 confirmed deaths since it began in May, highlighting the urgent need for effective countermeasures.

The trial's success could provide a crucial tool in controlling the spread of this dangerous Ebola variant and preventing future outbreaks.