The Joint West Africa Research Group (JWARG) begins a study designed to identify cases of suspected severe infectious disease at medical centers in West Africa.

The study is being led by the U.S. Military HIV Research Program (MHRP) of the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research.

The multi-site study opened today at the 68th Nigeria Army Reference Hospital in Yaba, Lagos, to be followed by three more sites in Nigeria.

JWARG plans to expand this research activity into Liberia and Ghana in the coming months.

The study will enroll adult volunteers who present as severely ill with a suspected infectious source.

In addition to receiving the usual care for their illness, they will be asked to provide samples for laboratory analysis and to complete a brief questionnaire that captures basic clinical, demographic and exposure data.

Several severe acute infectious diseases are endemic to West Africa, including malaria, yellow fever, Lassa fever and dengue.

Others like Ebola virus have caused outbreaks in the region. By identifying and monitoring emerging cases, researchers will be able to characterize and compare patterns of illness and describe epidemiologic patterns of infection, associated exposures and patient outcomes.

“Identifying new threats early and implementing a well-informed response are critical to limiting disease impact, ” said Dr. David Brett-Major, protocol chair and Network Associate Director for Clinical Research for MHRP.

“Findings from this study will help clinicians better understand regional disease threats and inform response to future outbreaks.”

JWARG is a U.S. Department of Defense funded, collaborative initiative that leverages existing research platforms and relationships to improve biopreparedness by strengthening research capabilities in West Africa.

JWARG aims to improve laboratory and clinical research capabilities in West Africa to enable the development of effective infectious diseases countermeasures including diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines.