The first edition of the ICER Newsletter covers May to September 2026, a period dominated by the Bundibugyo ebolavirus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda and by continued research on Mpox across the region. Executive Chairman Prof. Bruce Kirenga and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Winters Muttamba set the tone with a shared message: epidemic preparedness depends on research that is planned and in place before an outbreak begins. The research section follows that thread through ICER’s Mpox portfolio. DECIPHER-MPOX is investigating why the disease affects people differently, MpoxVax AFRIVAC reports full enrolment and strong retention in its vaccine immunogenicity cohort, and the MOSA trial has enrolled its first Ugandan participant. PREGMPOX is tracking outcomes among pregnant women in South Kivu, and the ProtonDx programme is moving towards a two-step rapid diagnostic algorithm for decentralised testing.

The edition also celebrates Prof. Pauline Byakika-Kibwika’s appointment as Chair of the Global Health EDCTP3 Stakeholders’ Group and introduces a member of ICER’s first PhD cohort. It looks back on the hantavirus webinar, the stakeholder breakfast meeting, the Regional Open Emergency Scientific Dialogue on BDBV, and engagements with partners in China and Ireland. Recent publications from ICER scientists close the issue, including correspondence in The Lancet Infectious Diseases and NEJM, a research letter on launching an Ebola vaccine trial within four days of outbreak notification, and ICER’s position statement calling for regional and African Union action on the BDBV outbreak. Download the full newsletter below.

ICER Newsletter Q2 2026 FIN_K11Download