Monkeypox and other animal-to-human infections: surveillance and care in the DRC
Official title: RFA-CK-22-001, Investigation of Monkeypox and Other Zoonotic Diseases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) - 2022
Funded at Kinshasa School of Public Health · NIH-11115533 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project works to make it easier to find, treat, and prevent monkeypox and other animal-transmitted infections for people living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Kinshasa School of Public Health NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kinshasa, Congo Dem Rep) |
| Project start | September 30, 2022 |
| Project end | September 29, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1 |
| NIH project number | 5U01CK000666-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11115533 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People living in or traveling to monkeypox-affected areas of the DRC—including those with suspected or confirmed monkeypox, close contacts, high-risk groups, and survivors—are the most likely candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People outside the DRC or those not at risk for monkeypox or other local zoonotic diseases are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, the team will set up stronger laboratory-based surveillance so cases are found and tracked more accurately. They will train health workers, test new diagnostic tools, and run clinical trials of treatment plans, vaccines, and antiviral medicines in affected communities. The project will include blood surveys of high-risk people and survivors, studies of local wildlife to find possible reservoirs, and conversations with communities about behaviors and attitudes. Work is done in partnership with the Kinshasa School of Public Health and the DRC Ministry of Health to speed up outbreak response.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could get faster diagnosis, more effective treatments and vaccines, and quicker responses that reduce illness and spread.
How similar studies have gone: Past outbreak responses using better surveillance, vaccination, and antiviral therapy have helped control disease spread, though this program combines those elements with expanded local trials and wildlife studies in a broader way.
Where this research is happening
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Kinshasa School of Public Health
Kinshasa, Congo Dem Rep Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kaba, Didine Kinkodi — Kinshasa School of Public Health
- Study coordinator: Kaba, Didine Kinkodi
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.