Abdoul Habib Beavogui
Maferinyah Training and Research Center in Rural Health of Maferinyah, Guinea
Title: Clinical research during the Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in Guinea: lessons learned and ways forward
Biography
Biography: Abdoul Habib Beavogui
Abstract
This study report on a portfolio of clinical research conducted in Guinea during the Ebola epidemic and draw the lessons learnt for the future from our perspective as Guinean medical researchers. We conducted a qualitative review of clinical research conducted in Guinea from June 2014 to July 2015, with a focus on vaccine and treatment studies. We also met with key stakeholders to discuss their views on the lessons learnt. Between June 2014 and July 2015, there was an increase in clinical research activities in Guinea. Three main types of clinical studies were undertaken during this period in Guinea: treatment studies (5 studies), vaccine studies (2 studies) rapid diagnosis test studies (9 studies) and natural history cohort studies (3 studies). Randomization was only possible in the WHO sponsored vaccine trial and with the JIKIMAPP trial (NIH/INSERM sponsored trial). The remaining trials (JIKI trial, Ebola_Tx trial and Interferon trial) used historical controls at their study sites for comparisons. Strong political will enabled a supportive environment for clinical research. Good complementarity between ethics and regulatory bodies reduced delays in the review processes for research consortia and communities (survivors for instance) were strongly involved in the research projects. The challenges included incorrect communication at the beginning of the outbreak, lack of proven treatment for Ebola, the debate about randomization, the high number of infections among health care workers, the lack of qualified human resources and sociocultural barriers and stigmatization against Ebola survivors along with governance issues.