The ACT-CHIK project was officially launched during a kick-off meeting held in Kigali, Rwanda, from 8–10 June 2026, bringing together all consortium partners from Africa and Europe. The meeting marked the formal start of a multinational effort to advance chikungunya vaccine research and clinical trials in Africa. All consortium partners convened at the University of Rwanda for the official launch of the Accelerating Clinical Trials for Chikungunya Vaccine in Africa (ACT-CHIK) project.
🤝 Consortium Partners
The ACT-CHIK consortium brings together leading research institutions, vaccine developers, and clinical trial sites across Africa, Europe, South America, and Asia.
The partners include:
- Institut Pasteur (Paris, France) – Project coordinator and developer of the MV-CHIK vaccine platform
- University of Rwanda (Kigali, Rwanda) – Scientific project leadership and clinical trial site
- Institut Pasteur de Dakar (Dakar, Senegal) – Vaccine technology transfer, laboratory assays, and clinical trial activities
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz) – Clinical trial material manufacturing (fill & finish) and technology transfer support
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) – Clinical trial activities, data dissemination, and communication
- Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (Nigeria) – Clinical trial site and Principal Investigator coordination
- International Vaccine Institute (IVI, Seoul, South Korea) – Clinical trial sponsorship, regulatory strategy, and capacity building
🧪 About ACT-CHIK
ACT-CHIK is a clinical research initiative focused on accelerating the development and evaluation of a chikungunya vaccine. The project builds on promising results from earlier Phase I and Phase II clinical studies of the MV-CHIK vaccine candidate and aims to strengthen clinical trial capacity across Africa.
🎯 Key Goals of the Project
During the launch, partners aligned on the project’s main objectives, including:
- Advancing clinical trials for the MV-CHIK vaccine candidate
- Strengthening clinical trial capacity in African countries
- Improving preparedness against chikungunya outbreaks
- Enhancing collaboration between African and European research institutions
🌍 Why the Launch Matters
The launch of ACT-CHIK represents a major step forward in addressing the growing burden of chikungunya, a mosquito-borne disease affecting millions globally.
It strengthens Africa’s role in clinical research and vaccine development while contributing to global health security and outbreak preparedness.
📍 Looking Ahead
The successful kick-off meeting in Kigali sets the foundation for multi-country clinical trial activities and long-term collaboration aimed at delivering an effective chikungunya vaccine for populations most at risk.
📝 Photo Caption
Consortium partners during the ACT-CHIK project kick-off meeting held in Kigali, Rwanda, marking the official launch of the multinational clinical trial initiative.