West Africa's labs team up to start outbreak research within 15 days
A new hub-and-spoke programme links Noguchi, MRC The Gambia, Africa CDC and others so trials can begin fast.
Accra — A new Africa Research Preparedness Programme for West Africa aims to get clinical research running within 10 to 15 days of an outbreak of diseases such as Ebola, mpox, Lassa fever or COVID-19.
West Africa already has skilled scientists and strong institutions, the organisers say. What it needs is a way for them to act together, fast.
Who is in it
- Africa CDC
- The African Medicines Agency
- WHO's Regional Office for Africa
- Ghana's Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research
- The Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia
- The International Vaccine Institute and CEPI
Shingai Machingaidze, CEPI's head of Africa strategy, said the programme uses a hub-and-spoke model so countries can agree research protocols in advance and respond to the same outbreak together. In her words: "We have the capacity." The task, she said, is to work together better, because speed depends on preparation.
Source: MyJoyOnline, 24 October 2026.
