GHIT Fund invests in portable Ebola diagnostic amid deadly Bundibugyo outbreak

The Global Health Innovative Technology Fund announced on Wednesday an investment of approximately JPY 140 million (USD 862,000) to develop a portable rapid diagnostic system for Ebola disease, as a large outbreak of Bundibugyo virus continues to spread across central Africa.prnewswire+1

A Race Against an Unprecedented Outbreak

The project brings together Osaka Metropolitan University, K.K. DNAFORM, and the National Institute for Biomedical Research of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to build a point-of-care testing system specifically targeting the Bundibugyo virus strain. The investment covers early development milestones including prototype development and performance validation, with preparations underway for clinical evaluation in the DRC.prnewswire+3

The diagnostic system leverages DNAFORM's GenPad platform, a portable isothermal nucleic acid amplification device. According to a 2025 paper published in PubMed Central, the GenPad system uses isothermal PCR to amplify specific nucleic acid sequences without the need for complex laboratory equipment. DNAFORM has stated it can develop, manufacture, and ship GenPad cartridges capable of detecting unknown pathogens within 40 days of identification.the-microbiologist+1

Responding to a Public Health Emergency

The investment comes as the World Health Organization reports a cumulative total of 2,124 confirmed cases and 828 deaths from the Bundibugyo virus outbreak in the DRC and Uganda as of July 15. The WHO declared the outbreak, which began in May 2026, a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Unlike Ebola virus disease caused by the Zaire strain, no licensed vaccine or specific treatment exists for Bundibugyo virus disease.afro.who+1

The GHIT Fund had already moved in June to establish an emergency framework accelerating product development support for diagnostics targeting filovirus infections, accepting applications outside its standard proposal timeline.link-j

Aligned With Global Pandemic Preparedness Goals

The investment supports the 100-Day Mission, first launched during the UK's G7 presidency in 2021 and later endorsed by G20 leaders, which sets the goal of deploying safe and effective diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines within 100 days of a pandemic threat being identified. With WHO having declared this outbreak a PHEIC on May 17, the clock is already ticking on that target.cepi+2