EPoCA-BVD

The challenge

Detection of Bundibugyo virus (BDBV) infections is challenging. Initial symptoms are non-specific and similar to those of other common local infections, including malaria. No validated point-of-care test is available yet, and laboratory confirmation takes several days and requires transport of hazardous biological materials.

Delays in diagnosis can have significant consequences. Unconfirmed cases might not enter isolation, providing opportunities for the virus to spread, or they might be placed in isolation unnecessarily, disrupting daily life, wasting healthcare resources, and absorbing capacity that could be used for patient management.

The project

The EPOCA-BVD project is developing a novel diagnostic, suitable for use in field conditions, that will provide rapid, reliable information on BDBV infections and automatically share data with policymakers.

The project is building on the existing Global Health EDCTP3-funded EPOCA project, which has been using novel biosensing technology to develop a test for other ebolaviruses. The new project will leverage the progress made in this project and the product development pathways established.

The detection technology is based on the BioGFET platform. Binding of a target molecule – such as an antigen from a pathogen of interest – triggers electrical changes in a transistor, which can be analysed by embedded AI systems to provide an output communicating the presence or absence of that pathogen. The platform has been enhanced by the use of graphene, which increases the platform’s sensitivity. 

The technology incorporates a biorecognition layer, based on antibodies that bind to specific pathogen antigens. Existing Ebola biorecognition will be adapted to detect BDBV-specific antigens. The device will also be made more rugged for use at field sites, such as peripheral health facilities and field triage sites, and will provide an initial diagnosis within 90 minutes (laboratory confirmation will still be required). The platform is internet-enabled, so data can be immediately shared with central data sources to provide health system managers with up-to-date epidemiological information. 

After laboratory testing of performance on biobanked samples, the technology will be evaluated in the field under real-world outbreak conditions. Data will be gathered on its diagnostic performance compared with gold-standard laboratory methods, as well as on its usability in field settings and its clinical utility (the extent to which results actually inform clinical decision-making). The project aims to test around 200–400 potential cases within a year. 

The project will also map out a pathway for the sustainable use of the platform for BDBV detection, including regulatory clearances, plans for technology transfer to support local manufacturing, documentation to support efficient deployment, and agreements for integrating data into national health information systems.

EPOCA-BVD is one of four projects funded through an emergency call for proposals launched in response to the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda in 2026.

Impact

The EPOCA-BVD project could have a major impact on triage of potential BDBV cases. It will:

• Develop a BDBV-specific diagnostic suitable for use in remote settings with minimal training. 
• Generate data on its performance in real-world response settings, including the extent to which it informs clinical decision-making.
• Automatically share diagnostic information to provide up-to-date epidemiological information to guide outbreak control activities.

A rapid point-of-care diagnostic could be a significant benefit to disease control efforts by ensuring patients are isolated and receive supportive care as quickly as possible, helping avoid overcrowding at testing facilities, and enabling earlier identification of contacts for monitoring.