Africa launches West Africa research programme to speed up outbreak response

A new regional initiative is seeking to strengthen West Africa’s preparedness for public health emergencies by connecting research institutions and enabling faster, more coordinated responses to disease outbreaks. The Africa Research Preparedness Programme for West Africa is designed to address gaps in research coordination that experts say could delay critical interventions during outbreaks of diseases such as Ebola, Mpox, Lassa fever and COVID-19.

Despite the presence of skilled scientists and established research institutions across the continent, preparedness remains uneven, with some clinical trial sites facing challenges transitioning from routine research to emergency response. Head of Africa Strategy and Engagement at the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Shingai Machingaidze, said the programme would adopt a hub-and-spoke model to connect existing research capabilities and support coordinated action during outbreaks.

She said the approach would allow countries to work together on research protocols and evidence generation, with the goal of activating clinical research responses within 10 to 15 days of an outbreak. “We have the capacity. What we’re trying to make sure we do better is how we all work together to respond to the same outbreak,” she said. “We are putting together what we call a hub and spoke model to build a coordinated capability to respond.

We need speed to respond to outbreak and we cannot do that if we have not prepared enough.” The programme is expected to provide a common platform for institutions across West Africa to align priorities, share expertise and strengthen emergency research systems. Regional institutions join effort The initiative brings together several organisations involved in public health research, regulation and outbreak preparedness.

They include the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the African Medicines Agency, the World Health Organization’s Regional Office for Africa, the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, the Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia, the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) and CEPI. The collaboration is intended to improve the ability of research institutions to mobilise their expertise and resources when outbreaks occur, rather than work in isolation.

Associate Director-General of the International Vaccine Institute in South Korea, Birkneh Tadesse, said operational research and clinical trials were also important to efforts to develop vaccines and support responses to outbreaks, including Ebola. “IVI is trying to work on operational research and clinical trials on drugs on vaccines. There is the east and central Africa preparedness programs in the response to the Ebola outbreak also,” he said.

Turning research capacity into rapid action The programme comes amid continued concerns about Africa’s ability to respond quickly to emerging and recurring infectious diseases. Experts have warned that the presence of research facilities and scientific expertise does not automatically translate into an effective emergency response without coordination, advance planning and systems that can be activated quickly.

The initiative seeks to address that challenge by strengthening links between institutions before outbreaks occur, allowing researchers to coordinate protocols and prepare for clinical studies when emergencies arise. Its effectiveness will depend on sustained investment, clear coordination arrangements and the ability to translate research findings into timely public health interventions.

The target of activating clinical research responses within 10 to 15 days will be a key measure of whether the programme can help close the gap between existing research capacity and the urgent demands of an outbreak.