The University of Oxford has launched the first human trial of a vaccine against Bundibugyo ebolavirus, seeking to accelerate efforts to ​combat an outbreak spreading in the Democratic Republic of Congo ‌and Uganda.

The early-stage trial, known as BD-Ebov, will evaluate the safety and immune response of the ChAdOx1 BDBV vaccine in 50 healthy adults aged 18 to 55 ​in Oxford, the university said on Monday.

Here are the details:

• Recruitment ​has begun, with vaccinations expected to start in the coming ⁠weeks pending regulatory approval.
• The vaccine was developed by scientists at Oxford's ​Vaccine Group and Pandemic Sciences Institute using the same viral vector platform ​as the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 shot.
• Serum Institute of India, which is partnering on the programme, said it manufactured and stockpiled about 620,000 doses of the vaccine candidate within ​two weeks and supplied 4,000 investigational doses for the early-stage study.
• In ​May, the World Health Organization recommended prioritising ChAdOx1 BDBV vaccine, alongside a single-dose candidate known ‌as ⁠rVSV Bundibugyo, being developed by the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, for clinical evaluation as part of the response to the ongoing outbreak.
• The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations said it would initially invest up to $8.6 million ​for the development ​of the ⁠shot.
• Preparations are also under way for additional clinical studies in Uganda, subject to regulatory approval, through partnerships including ​the Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute and the ​London School ⁠of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Uganda Research Unit.
• If the early-stage trial is successful, CEPI said it would work with Oxford and Serum Institute to ⁠support ​late-stage studies needed to seek emergency-use authorisation ​or full regulatory approval.
• The partners said they aim to ensure rapid and affordable vaccine supplies ​for affected countries.