$12.4M boost for global vaccine project: Radboudumc to help test all-in-one protection against world's most deadly viruses

A new international research initiative led by Danish biotech company AdaptVac, and partnered by Radboudumc, has been launched to develop a single vaccine targeting three of the world’s deadliest viruses: Zaire Ebola, Sudan Ebola, and Marburg. The project is funded by a $12.4 million grant from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme.

The all-in-one vaccine will be based on AdaptVac’s proprietary capsid Virus-Like Particle (cVLP) technology, with the goal of offering rapid and broad protection during outbreaks, particularly in Central and East Africa. Currently, licensed vaccines only exist for Zaire Ebola.

A key partner in the project is Radboudumc in the Netherlands, where the new cVLP technology was tested previously for the first time in humans. Scientists from Radboudumc and the Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL) in Gabon will test the vaccine candidates using innovative study designs that accelerate progress toward real-world use during epidemics.

Benjamin Mordmüller from Radboudumc explains: “Our aim is to learn very early in the project if the vaccine is safe in humans and if it can protect people from filoviruses.” Selidji T. Agnandji from CERMEL adds: “Combining studies in the Netherlands and Gabon, a country where Ebola and other filoviruses are present, will result in pivotal data for using the vaccine in diverse populations and age groups during the next epidemic.”

Radboudumc, based in Nijmegen, has a long-standing reputation for innovative clinical research. Its High-Level Isolation Unit is also the designated national center for the treatment of filovirus infections in the Netherlands. CERMEL, a Center of Excellence in vaccine research, was the first African site to conduct trials of experimental Ebola vaccines.

The consortium also includes partners from Denmark and Germany, with the German Institute for Drug Discovery using AI to design vaccine components. Targeting deadly filoviruses like Ebola and Marburg, the project aligns with CEPI’s “100 Days Mission” to rapidly respond to outbreaks and prioritizes equitable access, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

Read the full article on CEPI’s website: Pioneering research to develop all-in-one vaccine against some of world’s most deadly diseases