The overall aim of EbolaMoDRAD is to develop and deliver rapid and bedside diagnostic tool(s) that will significantly increase our capacity to handle the current Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in West Africa and also future outbreak in within a 24 month-period.

To achieve this overall aim an intensive work plan will be put in place with the following specific objectives:

• Objective 1: to develop a biosafe detection method (diagnostic tool) for use at points of care in EVD endemic countries (via WP2 and WP3);
• Objective 2: to validate the diagnostic tools first in BSL4 and reference laboratories and then in the field (via WP4);
• Objective 3: to implement a strong capacity building programme in West Africa with focus to rapid diagnostic, biosafety measure and outbreak management via WP4 and WP5;
• Objective 4: to disseminate widely the project and its results to public health bodies, NGOs, outbreak management teams and local hospitals in West Africa via WP5.

This is a narrow research field, with few top experts around the world and a limited number of BSL-4 capacity hubs. Altogether, it is clear that multidisciplinary research efforts need to be gathered into a programme on this virus. The proposed EbolaMoDRAD project has succeeded in bringing together selected competitive advantages: 1) operating capacity with appropriate facilities, 2) experienced researchers, 3) authorities and entities, 4) clinical samples from endemic countries, 5) access to diagnostic hubs in epidemic areas, 6) SMEs and 7) an international network.

The objectives proposed in this multidisciplinary research programme will directly aid field diagnosis. The objectives are highly specific, measurable and achievable within the period of the proposed programme.

The achievements of objectives 1 and 2 - Improvement of bedside diagnostics, validation and field trials - will be measurable by the degree of implementation of the validated new diagnostic tools in West Africa and beyond. It will be compared with established diagnostic methods available only in specialist laboratories.

The achievement of objectives 3 and 4 - Education and knowledge dissemination - will be accomplished by training relevant numbers of health workers and medical staff in endemic EVD areas. In addition, several workshops and practical training at the laboratory level dealing with outbreak management will be organised and opened for neighbouring countries. Intensive interaction with international and European organisations (European Commission, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, World Health Organisation, etc.), including national authorities and networks, will be guaranteed by the consortium. EbolaMoDRAD will also manage a sustainable DataBase and BioBank, which will be created in this programme (complimentary to the Central Information Repository which will be established under Topic 1, for all projects under the Ebola+ programme).