Introduction

The Innovative Medicines Initiative 2 (IMI2) Joint Undertaking is a public-private partnership between the European Commission and EFPIA (the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industry and Associations), implemented through public-private consortia to carry out research or other actions, where the EU provides funding and EFPIA and other members matching the EU funding with their own contributions. The IMI Ebola+ programme was launched in response to the Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak that started in western Africa in 2014. The comprehensive programme contributes to efforts to tackle a wide range of challenges in Ebola research, including vaccines development, clinical trials, storage and transport, as well as diagnostics and treatments.

Objective of the call

This Call provides an opportunity to capture emerging scientific advances and to progress those rapidly into health care interventions. Research and Innovation projects funded under this Call should ensure fast development, uptake and/or wide deployment of sustainable innovative solutions that will result in an increased readiness to respond to future Ebola outbreaks. Proposals may address aspects of pre-clinical development and/or Phase 1, 2, and 3 clinical developments of vaccines (in particular multivalent), treatments and diagnosis of Ebola or other filovirus infections. Manufacturing strategies, vaccine stability during transport and storage, and/or deployment of vaccines and treatments are also in scope. Proposals for the development of adaptable platforms, which can address multiple other priority pathogens in addition to filoviruses are also eligible.

Proposals should demonstrate that the latest knowledge and learning from the current epidemic are being taken into consideration and that work proposed is novel and innovative and expected to deliver clear added value. Proposals should build on outcomes of research stemming from other programmes in this general area of research and innovation, national or international. Every proposal should plan for a clearly defined strategy on how to ensure translation of the relevant project outputs into regulatory, clinical and healthcare practices, and ultimately into value for people in countries at risk of future outbreaks of filoviral haemorrhagic fevers.

Eligible applicants

Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and other companies with an annual turnover of EUR 500 million or less; secondary and higher education establishments; non-profit organisations, including those carrying out research or technological development as one of their main objectives or those that are patient organisations; hospitals; international European interest organisations.

Partnership criteria

A proposal must be made by a consortium of at least three independent legal entities, each established in a different Member State or associated country.

Funding

Coverage of 100% of the project costs

Deadline

Next cut-off dates: 14 September 2017 and 15 March 2018

More information at

https://www.imi.europa.eu/content/ebola-programme