RCE PhD Candidate Supports Mpox Antibody Test Validation
We are delighted to recognise the contribution of Hervé Semukunzi, the first EAC RCE-VIHSCM-supported doctoral student to publish a peer-reviewed article, to the validation of a new mpox antibody test in Rwanda. The study provides a key tool for outbreak surveillance, population immunity monitoring, and vaccine strategy planning.
The research was conducted at the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) in Kigali in August 2025 and included 150 adults with varying vaccination and exposure histories. Researchers tested a four-antigen IgG ELISA assay, which performed reliably under routine laboratory conditions. Strong correlation between serum and dried blood spot (DBS) samples confirmed that DBS testing is a feasible approach for community-level serosurveillance.
The MpoxCARE project was a collaborative effort between the University of Birmingham, Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), and the University of Rwanda, with support from the EAC RCE-VIHSCM in its role as a project funder and regional partner, and additional assistance from the Africa Centre for Excellence in Sustainable Cooling and Cold-chain (ACES), MedtechtoMarket Ltd, UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), and the West Midlands NIHR ACAT programme.
This study highlights the value of regional collaboration and capacity building, ensuring research is conducted in affected communities while strengthening local expertise in immunization and outbreak response. The findings have been published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.