£6.5m funding for Ebola research
21 Aug 2014
The current West Africa Ebola epidemic has claimed more than 1,200 lives, and threatens many more.
The Wellcome Trust has today announced its plans to invest £6.5 million for emergency Ebola research, and a further £40 million investment in African science and research.
The multi-million pound funding package will be used to improve the research that could ultimately be used to contain or prevent future outbreaks of the disease.
“The current Ebola crisis underlines the importance for institutions like ours to get involved
Dangote Foundation chairman Aliko Dangote
Teams from around the world are being invited to submit research proposals to better inform the management of further Ebola outbreaks, with the initial call for proposals closing on Monday 8th September.
International development secretary Justine Greening said: “This will help us better equip those working on the ground so they can tackle the outbreak as effectively as possible and prevent more people contracting this terrible disease.”
As part of the emergency initiative, investigations into treating, preventing and containing the disease will also be considered, as well as the identification of potential new drugs and vaccines that have shown promise in clinical trials.
Director of the Wellcome Trust Jeremy Farrar said: “The gravity of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa demands an urgent response, and we believe rapid research into humanitarian interventions and therapeutics can have an impact on treatment and containment during the present outbreak.
“What we learn could also change the way we approach future outbreaks, providing us with tested tools and techniques that were not available to public health authorities this time.”
The Wellcome Trust has also announced a strategic partnership with African-based philanthropic organisation Dangote Foundation to support further Ebola research.
“The current Ebola crisis underlines the importance for institutions like ours to get involved in supporting medical research,” said Dangote Foundation chairman Aliko Dangote.
Funding will be awarded tho researchers who can provide strong evidence and analysis on the disease in areas including:
- Anthropology
- Clinical management
- Diagnosis
- Disease control and prevention
- Ethics
- Health systems
- Social mobilisation
- Surveillance
- Treatment
