28 Oct International Societies Urge Expedited Ebola Vaccine Development
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Prof. Clive Maurice Gray
Division of Immunology, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine,National Health Laboratory Services
University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
Medical Research: What is the background for this report? What are the main findings?
Prof. Gray: This report is a response on behalf to the International Union of Immunology Societies (IUIS) and is designed to focus a message from the global immunology community to those who are making vaccines and therapies implementing clinical trials and very importantly on Governments and funding bodies. Time is not our side and that vaccine efforts need to be expedited and that production of therapeutics needs to be ramped up. Due to the fact that many people in West Africa are dying, we wish to convey a strong message that to curb this outbreak, therapies and especially vaccines must be rolled out as soon as possible.
Medical Research: What should governements and the health care community take away from this report?
Prof. Gray: Those Governments in a position to provide funds for vaccine trials and expanding immune-based therapies and their implementation should do so. The report is addressing a call to action to speed up vaccines and therapies. The health care community in the areas affected are doing a magnificent job, but it is also these people that need to be protected against Ebola virus disease so that they can continue to perform the stirling work they are doing.
Medical Research: What recommendations do you have for urgent research as a result of this study?
Prof. Gray: The next stage is clear – implement safety trials (already in progress) and efficacy studies in West Africa where the disease is spreading, so that vaccines can be judged safe and effective for future roll out.
Citation:
Clive M. Gray, Marylyn Addo and Reinhold E. Schmidt for the Clinical Immunology Committee of the IU
Front. Immunol., 27 October 2014 | doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2014.00562
Last Updated on October 28, 2014 by Marie Benz MD FAAD