World’s first trial of new Ebola vaccine launches at University Hospital Southampton

University Hospital Southampton (UHS) has joined the first clinical trial of a Bundibugyo Ebola vaccine developed in response to the ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Bundibugyo ebolavirus causes a severe illness that can be fatal in up to half of people who become infected. There are currently no approved vaccines specifically for this species of Ebola, making the development and testing of new vaccines an important global health priority.

The vaccine, called the ChAdOx1 Ebola BDBV Vaccine, was developed by scientists at the University of Oxford. It uses the same vaccine technology that was used to create the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, which helped protect millions of people around the world during the pandemic.

Researchers hope it could help protect communities affected by this Ebola outbreak and outbreaks in the future.

The current Bundibugyo ebolavirus outbreak was officially declared in May 2026. Researchers at the University of Oxford responded rapidly to launch this vaccine trial, called BD-Ebov, in Oxford in July.

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Facility at UHS has now joined the study as a second location. The trial is being delivered by the hospital through its NIHR Biomedical Research Centre: Southampton.

The trial will recruit 50 healthy volunteers aged between 18 and 55. Participants will receive either one or two doses of the vaccine or a placebo, depending on which study group they join, and will attend regular appointments over the course of a year. These visits will allow researchers to monitor the vaccine's safety and measure the immune response it produces.

Professor Chrissie Jones, Principal Investigator for the study at University Hospital Southampton and the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre: Southampton, said: “The current Bundibugyo ebolavirus outbreak is a reminder that emerging infectious diseases remain a serious global threat. We're proud that Southampton will play a key role in this important international effort. By taking part, volunteers can make a real contribution to research that could help save lives around the world.”

Professor Katrina Pollock, Chief Investigator of the trial and Associate Director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, said: “This first-in-human study of a Bundibugyo ebolavirus vaccine is important in the fight against this lethal outbreak of Ebola. It is really encouraging that the experienced clinical trial team at University Hospital Southampton are joining us to deliver this Phase 1 trial, which is evaluating the vaccine’s safety and immune responses.

“Our team are grateful to all our partners and the participants in our trials, without whom we could not do this work to protect public health.”

UHS is now inviting healthy adults aged 18 to 55 to volunteer for the study. Volunteers will be reimbursed for their time, travel and inconvenience.