TOKYO, Japan, July 23, 2026
The Global Health Innovative Technology (GHIT) Fund has announced an investment of approximately JPY 140 million (USD 862,000) to support the development of a portable rapid diagnostic system for Ebola disease. The collaborative project brings together Osaka Metropolitan University, K.K. DNAFORM, and the National Institute for Biomedical Research (INRB) of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to accelerate the development of a point-of-care (POC) diagnostic platform capable of detecting Bundibugyo virus, one of the viruses responsible for Ebola disease outbreaks. The funding supports early-stage prototype development, analytical performance validation, and preparations for future clinical evaluation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The initiative reflects a coordinated international effort to strengthen outbreak preparedness following the World Health Organization’s declaration of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) in response to the Bundibugyo virus outbreak affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. By advancing rapid molecular diagnostics that can be deployed in resource-limited settings, the project aims to improve early detection, patient isolation, contact tracing, and timely clinical intervention during Ebola outbreaks.
Investment Accelerates Development of Portable Ebola Testing
The newly approved funding will enable the project partners to complete critical early development milestones, including prototype construction, performance validation for Bundibugyo virus detection, and preparations for future clinical evaluation in outbreak regions. The investment followed an expedited review process launched by the GHIT Fund shortly after the Ebola outbreak emerged in Central Africa. As part of its rapid pandemic response strategy, GHIT conducted landscape assessments, accepted Expressions of Interest, and evaluated promising diagnostic technologies capable of supporting emergency public health responses. The selected project aligns with the global 100-Day Mission, an international initiative focused on accelerating the development of diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines within 100 days of identifying an emerging pandemic threat. By supporting rapid diagnostic innovation at an early stage, GHIT aims to strengthen global readiness against future infectious disease emergencies while improving response capabilities for the ongoing Ebola outbreak.
GenPad Platform Designed for Resource-Limited Outbreak Settings
At the center of the collaboration is DNAFORM’s GenPad platform, a portable isothermal nucleic acid amplification technology designed to perform molecular testing without relying on complex laboratory equipment or stable electrical infrastructure. The lightweight platform is intended for point-of-care deployment in remote and resource-constrained environments where conventional molecular diagnostics may be unavailable. Under this collaboration, researchers will adapt the GenPad system to rapidly detect Bundibugyo virus, enabling healthcare workers to perform diagnostic testing closer to patients during active Ebola outbreaks. The project combines Osaka Metropolitan University’s infectious disease research expertise, DNAFORM’s molecular diagnostic technology, and INRB’s frontline outbreak response infrastructure to create a practical diagnostic solution capable of supporting both current outbreak management and future preparedness efforts across regions vulnerable to Ebola transmission.
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Global Collaboration Strengthens Pandemic Preparedness
The collaboration highlights the growing importance of international partnerships in developing innovative technologies for emerging infectious diseases. Rapid and accurate diagnosis remains one of the most critical tools for controlling Ebola outbreaks, particularly in areas with limited healthcare infrastructure where delayed detection can accelerate disease transmission. By investing in portable molecular diagnostic technologies, the GHIT Fund seeks to improve global health security while supporting faster public health responses to highly infectious pathogens. The project also demonstrates how academic institutions, biotechnology innovators, and national research organizations can work together to translate scientific innovation into practical healthcare solutions. If successfully developed and clinically validated, the portable diagnostic system could significantly enhance Ebola surveillance, outbreak containment, and patient management, while contributing to broader international efforts aimed at improving preparedness for future epidemic and pandemic threats.
Source: GHIT Fund Press release
