In Nigeria, EIDB works with HJFMRI to advance high quality clinical research in the development of prevention and control countermeasures for emerging infectious diseases of public health importance.
Ebola
The Clinical Research Centre (CRC) in Abuja, Nigeria, works with a number of collaborators including WRAIR, EIDB and the Nigerian Ministry of Defence (NMOD). The CRC has partnered with WRAIR on a number of Ebola vaccine projects, and is currently conducting a Phase 2 trial evaluating an ebola vaccine candidate (Ad26.ZEBOV/MVA-BN-Filo) in healthy adults and those living with HIV. Previously Nigeria’s Clinical Research Centre worked with WRAIR to conduct the first Zaire Ebola vaccine trial in Nigeria.
Lassa Fever
EIDB has launched a study of Lassa fever epidemiology in Southern Nigeria in collaboration with the African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID). The study will provide information on the clinical course, immune response and transmission dynamics of the virus, which may inform review of guidelines for disease management and future vaccine research and development. The study also aims to characterize rodent vectors to describe the route of zoonotic transmission.
A second planned epidemiological study will aim to determine the prevalence of Lassa fever virus in Abuja and Lagos, Nigeria, and identify related risk factors. The findings of this study will provide information that will be useful for future Lassa vaccine studies.