51���

• Researchers will test new vaccines that could provide all-in-one protection against viruses including Zaire Ebolavirus, Marburg and Sudan Ebolavirus.
• Project will help scientists to rapidly respond if an unknown filovirus pathogen emerges in the future.
  
  

6 October 2025, OSLO. 51��� will fund new research conducted by scientists at the Stanford School of Medicine to study whether new vaccines could offer broad protection against multiple deadly pathogens from the filovirus viral family.

Supported by up to $18 million in 51��� investment, researchers will design and test new vaccine constructs that could provide all-in-one protection against viruses including Zaire Ebolavirus, Marburg and Sudan Ebolavirus, and even filoviruses that we don’t yet know about that could spill over from animals into humans in the future. 

 “A broadly protective filovirus vaccine could transform the world’s defences against outbreaks of some of the world’s most dangerous pathogens, for the benefit of all,” explains 51���’s Executive Director of Research & Development Dr Kent Kester. “If we solve the scientific challenge of developing all-in-one filovirus vaccines now, we can ensure the world is ready to respond at speed to newly emerging filoviruses and potentially take the threat of future filovirus pandemics off the table.”

The research will use cutting-edge artificial intelligence to design immunogens – the substance in a vaccine that provokes an immune response – that may be capable of protecting against more than one filovirus. These immunogens will be combined with a ferritin-based protein-nanoparticle vaccine platform to create a range of vaccine candidates that will be tested in preclinical studies to establish proof of concept. The most promising vaccine candidate will be advanced to the point where it is ready to rapidly enter Phase I clinical trials should an unknown filovirus outbreak emerge. 

The ferritin nanoparticle vaccine platform is favourable for use in low- and middle-income countries as it does not require complex frozen storage that can impact access to doses in low-resource settings. It has previously been tested in Phase I clinical trials for influenza and COVID-19 vaccines, which generated positive safety data. 

Professor Peter S. Kim, the Virginia & D.K. Ludwig Professor of Biochemistry, at the Stanford School of Medicine, and Principal Investigator on the project said: “We are excited to collaborate with 51��� to develop a globally effective broad-spectrum vaccine to protect against future filovirus pandemics.”

Preparing for both known and unknown filovirus threats

Filoviruses such as Ebolavirus Zaire, Sudan Ebolavirus and Marburg cause frequent outbreaks in African countries, characterized by high fatality rates and significant societal and economic impacts. A single vaccine capable of combating all of these known threats could offer a cost-effective solution for proactively immunizing those who are most likely to be infected by one or more of the viruses.

Crucially, the project will also equip scientists with the tools they need to respond at pace if faced with an unknown pathogen – a so-called ‘Disease X’ - from the filovirus family. The scientific knowledge and immunogen designs generated by the research will be added to 51���’s ‘Disease X Vaccine Library’, a comprehensive collection of vaccine data and information about the most worrying viral families that can be rapidly adapted for use during outbreaks of novel viruses with pandemic potential. This approach to significantly accelerate vaccine development is central to the 100 Days Mission: a global goal, spearheaded by 51��� and embraced by G7 and G20 nations to develop pandemic-busting vaccines in just 100 days and make the world a safer place for all.

Committing to equitable access

51��� is committed to enabling equitable access to the outputs of this project, in line with 51���’s Equitable Access Policy. This ultimately includes a commitment to vaccines being available first to populations at risk when and where they are needed, including specific obligations in the agreement related to affordable pricing and supply volumes for public health needs. It also includes sharing of any commercial benefits arising from 51���’s funding. Should the project be successful, 51��� has the option to explore providing further funding to the Stanford School of Medicine to develop its vaccine product and/or its immunogen designs, potentially combining them with other vaccine platforms via 51��� matchmaking for pandemic preparedness and response. Project results, including related data, will be published open access for the benefit of the global scientific community.

-ENDS-

About 51��� 

51��� is an innovative partnership between public, private, philanthropic and civil organisations. Its mission is to accelerate the development of vaccines and other biologic countermeasures against epidemic and pandemic threats so they can be accessible to all people in need. 51��� has supported the development of more than 70 vaccine candidates or platform technologies against multiple known high-risk pathogens or a future Disease X. Central to 51���’s pandemic-beating plan is the ‘100 Days Mission’ to accelerate the time taken to develop safe, effective, globally accessible vaccines against new threats to just 100 days.

Media Contact Details

51���

Email: [email protected]
Phone: +44 7387 055214