Ebola in the DR Congo: 10 research priorities defined by the WHO and ANRS MIE
Last updated on 16 September 2025
Main points
- Following the declaration of a new Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo, ANRS MIE and WHO brought together experts from the Collaborative Open Research Consortium (CORC) on Filoviruses on 5 September 2025.
- Together, they defined ten research priorities to support the immediate response and strengthen preparedness for future epidemics.
On 4 September 2025, health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) declared an Ebola virus disease outbreak in Kasai Province, with 28 suspected cases and 15 deaths, including four health workers. The outbreak underscores the urgent need to combine rapid field response with a coordinated research agenda to accelerate advances in Ebola medical countermeasures.
In response, on 5 September 2025, ANRS-MIE and WHO convened a Filovirus Collaborative Open Consortium (CORC) Scientific Consultation. The meeting brought together experts from the DRC and the international research community to assess the evolving situation, share lessons learned, and define joint research priorities.
From these discussions, 10 key research actions were identified, reflecting a dual imperative:
- Support effective, real-time outbreak response
- Strengthen long-term preparedness for future filovirus epidemics
