This initiative unites Osaka Metropolitan University, K.K. DNAFORM, and the National Institute for Biomedical Research (INRB) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The collaboration centers on the GenPad platform, a portable isothermal nucleic acid amplification technology developed by DNAFORM. Because the system functions without large-scale laboratory equipment or stable power, it is specifically designed for high-stakes, resource-limited outbreak settings.
GHIT Fund Backs Rapid Ebola Diagnostic Tool for Congo and Uganda
The GHIT Fund has committed JPY 140 million to develop a portable diagnostic system for the Bundibugyo virus, targeting areas where laboratory infrastructure remains scarce. The project aims to provide frontline medical workers with point-of-care testing capabilities to contain outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.
The investment covers prototype development and performance validation, moving toward clinical evaluation. The project aligns with the global 100-Day Mission, an initiative seeking to deploy medical countermeasures within 100 days of identifying a pandemic threat. Following the WHO's declaration of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on May 16, 2026, the GHIT Fund accelerated its review process to fast-track this diagnostic solution, ensuring that isolation and contact tracing efforts in affected regions receive the necessary technical support.
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