Filovirus research and development roadmap

Overview

In recent decades, the global epidemiological landscape has been marked by an increasing frequency and geographic spread of infectious disease outbreaks. In this context of heightened epidemic risk, strengthening research capacities and international collaboration is essential to improve preparedness and enable rapid responses to emerging health threats.

To support this objective, the World Health Organization has identified a set of priority pathogen families with epidemic and pandemic potential and promotes research strategies that focus on these groups. As part of this approach, Collaborative Open Research Consortia (CORCs) have been established to foster coordinated scientific efforts, facilitate open data sharing, and accelerate the development of medical countermeasures and public health interventions.

The Filovirus CORC focuses on R&D blueprint WHO priority pathogens and prototype pathogens from the Filoviridae family, including Ebola virus and Marburg virus, which cause severe viral hemorrhagic fevers and recurrent outbreaks. Coordinated by ANRS Emerging Infectious Diseases, the Filovirus CORC aims to identify key research priorities and guide the development of knowledge and tools needed to strengthen preparedness and response to future filovirus outbreaks The Filovirus CORC has been tasked to update the WHO AFIRM strategy roadmap 2021-2031 provided by the MARVAC consortium, with significant achievements such as the development of standardized CORE protocols for filovirus vaccine and therapeutic trials, accelerated deployment of candidate vaccines during outbreaks, and strengthened global collaboration between research institutions, health authorities, and affected communities.