Ebolavirus disease (EVD) is a severe, often fatal illness in humans, that has occurred in numerous outbreaks. Currently no specific  treatments exists for EVD and no licensed vaccine is available. The most advanced candidate is the recombinant rVSVrG-ZEBOV-GP vaccine based on the replication-competent recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV).

The VSV-EBOPLUS collaborative research project on “Systems analysis of adult and pediatric responses to the VSV-ZEBOV Ebola vaccine” is aimed to decipher the immune and molecular signatures of adult and pediatric responses elicited by the rVSVrG-ZEBOV-GP (Ervebo^®) vaccine. This is the first vaccine approved for prevention of Ebola virus disease and is based on a live-attenuated recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus vector expressing the glycoprotein G of Zaire Ebolavirus.

VSV-EBOPLUS will apply advanced cutting-edge technologies and systems vaccinology approaches to characterize the signatures of the responses to rVSVrG-ZEBOV-GP vaccination in clinical studies conducted in three different continents (Europe, Africa, US), in almost 1’000 adults, adolescents and children.

VSV-EBOPLUS is a public-private consortium of 11 partners from 8 different countries involving experts from academic and research institutions, clinical sites (Switzerland, Gabon, USA) and the rVSVrG-ZEBOV-GP vaccine manufacturer. The project, of the duration of 6 years, has a total budget of more than €15 million, and it is funded by the Innovative Medicines Initiative 2 (IMI 2) Joint Undertaking.