KHRC To Collaborate With Oxford Vaccine Group On Lassa Fever Vaccine Trial
October 08, 2024 | News Feed | Reading time: 4 min
The Kintampo Health Research Centre (KHRC) recently welcomed a delegation from the Oxford Vaccine Group to discuss the implementation of a Phase 1B clinical trial for a Lassa Fever vaccine candidate developed by Oxford University. The visit marks a significant step forward in the collaboration between the two institutions, which have been working towards this partnership for nearly a decade.
Led by Professor Maheshi Ramasamy, Senior Clinical Researcher and Principal Investigator, the five-member Oxford team visited the KHRC on Monday, October 7, 2024. During the visit, they toured the Centre’s facilities to assess its capacity to conduct the upcoming trial. Discussions during the visit covered key aspects of the study, including the trial's implementation strategy, laboratory protocols, and data management.
The other members of the team included Sarah Kelly, Senior Clinical Program Manager, Dr. Benjamin Curtis, Global Clinical Fellow, Dr Elizabeth Clutterbuck, laboratory lead and Yama Mujadidi, Programming and Data Management Director.
Dr. Kwaku Poku Asante, Director of KHRC, expressed his excitement over the visit, noting that efforts to establish this partnership date back to 2014. “I am happy to see that after ten years, we are finally moving forward with this collaboration,” he added. Dr. Asante further emphasized KHRC’s commitment to working with like-minded institutions to address critical health challenges in Ghana and beyond.
Dr. Seyram Kaali, KHRC's Senior Medical Officer and team lead for Clinical Trials, highlighted the importance of the collaboration, noting that the Centre will leverage its expertise in clinical trials, and draw lessons from previous trials, particularly the recently completed phase 1A Lassa Fever vaccine trial to successfully conduct this study. He expressed confidence that the collaboration with the Oxford Vaccine Group would lead to the development of new tools to effectively combat the disease.
The Oxford Vaccine Group has been at the forefront of vaccine development for 30 years, helping to fight diseases of major global importance through research and education around the world.
This collaboration represents a milestone in efforts to find a sustainable solution to the Lassa Fever threat, which continues to affect communities in West Africa.
