Adaptive platform trials for Ebola disease: MUST takes the lead on four vital frameworks - Mbarara University of Science and Technology
Answering the Presidential Challenge: The operationalization of these trials inside Uganda directly answers a critical directive issued by H. E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the President of the Republic of Uganda during a high-level national health conference held at Speke Resort Munyonyo in June 2026. The President explicitly challenged the scientific community to uncover the genesis of these […]
Answering the Presidential Challenge:The operationalization of these trials inside Uganda directly answers a critical directive issued by H. E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the President of the Republic of Uganda during a high-level national health conference held at Speke Resort Munyonyo in June 2026. The President explicitly challenged the scientific community to uncover the genesis of these recurrent epidemics and break the cycle of infection. In immediate response, a powerful domestic coalition comprising the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI), Makerere University, and Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) mobilized to rapidly develop, approve, and deploy adaptive research frameworks capable of stepping directly into active outbreak hot spots. H. E. Conrad Twinomugisha 38TH Guild president, Hon. Eng. Jonard Asiimwe Akiiki, Prof. Pauline Byakika-KibwikaTaking up the national mantle, Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) is cementing its position as one of Africa’s leading centres for clinical research on emerging infectious disease through its leadership of major international clinical trials aimed at finding effective treatment and preventive interventions for Ebola and Mpox. The University’s growing contribution to global health research was showcased during a recent visit by the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Hon. Eng. Jonard Asiimwe Akiiki, who toured MUST’s research and innovation facilities and received updates on the University’s expanding portfolio of internationally funded research programmes. Leading by example: Professor Pauline Byakika-Kibwika, Vice Chancellor of MUST and an internationally recognised clinician-scientist, and epidimologist briefed the Minister on the University’s leadership of four major multinational clinical research protocols addressing two of Africa’s most significant public health threats:PARTNERS Trial– evaluating the safety and effectiveness of Remdesivir and monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of Ebola virus disease;EBO-PEP Trial– assessing Obeldesivir for post-exposure prevention of Ebola among individuals at high risk of infection;MEURI Compassionate Use Protocol– providing access to promising investigational therapies for Ebola during outbreaks where proven treatments are unavailable; andMOSA Trial– evaluating Brincidofovir for the treatment of Mpox virus disease. Leading Africa’s Search for Ebola TreatmentsProfessor Byakika-Kibwika presented an overview of the ongoing Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease outbreak affecting Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), alongside the continuing Mpox outbreaks across several African countries. She noted that despite repeated outbreaks, effective treatments for Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease remain limited, underscoring the urgent need for rigorous clinical research capable of generating high-quality evidence to guide patient care and outbreak response. MUST is leading Uganda’s participation in thePlatform Adaptive Randomised Trial for New and Repurposed Filovirus Treatments (PARTNERS), an innovative adaptive platform trial evaluating monoclonal antibodies and the antiviral drug Remdesivir for the treatment of Ebola virus disease. The trial is currently underway in the DRC and is prepared for implementation in Uganda should transmission continue. Professor Byakika-Kibwika emphasized that strengthening Africa’s capacity to generate evidence locally is essential for ensuring equitable access to treatments for diseases that disproportionately affect low- and middle-income countries. The EBO-PEP Initiative: Preventing Ebola Before Disease DevelopsWhile treatment remains essential, Professor Byakika-Kibwika stressed that effective outbreak control also requires protecting people who have already been exposed to the virus. In the absence of a licensed vaccine against Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease, post-exposure prophylaxis could become a critical strategy for preventing illness among healthcare workers, family members, and other high-risk contacts. To address this gap, MUST is leading Uganda’s participation in theEBO-PEP Trial, the first international clinical study designed to evaluate post-exposure prophylaxis for Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease. The trial, which was recently launched in the DRC, aims to enrol nearly 1,000 participants and is expected to expand to Uganda if additional cases occur. Professor Byakika-Kibwika serves as Uganda Principal Investigator alongside Professor Placide Mbala of the National Institute for Biomedical Research (INRB), DRC, and Dr. Marie Jaspard of Saint-Antoine Hospital/Inserm, France. The study brings together African and international institutions working to establish whether post-exposure treatment can prevent Ebola among individuals at highest risk of infection. Evaluating New Treatments for MpoxProfessor Byakika-Kibwika also highlighted Uganda’s growing burden of Mpox, where sustained human-to-human transmission has reinforced the need for evidence-based treatment options. MUST is leading Uganda’s participation in theMOSA Trial, a Phase III multicounty, randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind adaptive platform trial evaluating the antiviral drug Brincidofovir for the treatment of Mpox virus disease. The study is currently enrolling participants at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital and Entebbe Regional Referral Hospital and forms part of a wider international effort to identify effective therapies for Mpox. Building Sustainable Research Capacity for AfricaBeyond addressing current outbreaks, these studies are laying the foundation for stronger research systems capable of responding rapidly to future public health emergencies. Professor Byakika-Kibwika explained that adaptive platform trial designs are particularly suited to diseases such as Ebola because outbreaks are unpredictable and often subside before conventional clinical trials can recruit sufficient participants. Adaptive trial platforms allow multiple treatments to be evaluated efficiently within a single protocol, generating robust evidence while maximizing limited outbreak opportunities. Together, the Ebola and Mpox programmes position MUST among the few institutions in Africa simultaneously leading advanced adaptive clinical trials for multiple epidemic-prone diseases. The initiatives are strengthening Uganda’s clinical trial infrastructure, expanding pharmacokinetic and biobanking capacity, building expertise in emerging infectious diseases, and deepening collaboration with leading international research institutions. Research Driving National DevelopmentDuring his visit, Hon. Eng. Jonard Asiimwe Akiiki commended MUST’s growing contribution to science, technology and innovation and emphasized the importance of translating research into practical solutions that improve people’s lives and strengthen Uganda’s socio-economic development. As emerging infectious diseases continue to pose significant threats to global health, MUST is demonstrating that African institutions can lead world-class research, generate evidence that shapes international practice, and contribute meaningfully to solutions for some of the world’s most pressing health challenges. . This massive leap in institutional expertise directly elevates MUST’s role as a dominant regional leader in high-consequence pathogen research. By proving its capacity to handle complex master protocols, the university is structurally positioned to attract competitive global research funding ensuring long-term institutional growth, innovation, and security for the entire East African community. Author