IMI 2 launches call Ebola and other filoviral haemorrhagic fevers and holds webinars

The Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI 2) has launched the previous announced call Ebola and other filoviral haemorrhagic fevers. Deadline of submission is December 1, 2014. Dubbed Ebola+, the comprehensive programme will see pharmaceutical companies collaborating with each other and with experts from universities, small biotech companies, regulators, and others to tackle a broad range of challenges in Ebola research. This first call in the programme has a total budget of € 280 million.

The call should result in projects addressing the development, manufacture, transport, and storage of vaccines; ensuring compliance with vaccine regimens; and the development of rapid diagnostic tests. The first projects are expected to begin in early 2015, and hopefully they will deliver results that will contribute to tackling both the current and future outbreaks.

Additional topics under the Ebola+ programme may be launched at a later point and may cover the following areas: 

Immunotherapy; 
Formulations for cold chain; 
Rapid diagnostic tests - long term; 
Antivirals development and repurposing; 
Multivalent filovirus vaccine development.

IMI will hold webinars on the call on Ebola on November 12 and November 17, both at 14.00. The webinars will feature presentations of the rules and procedures of the call as well as the topics. Registration for the webinars is free but obligatory.