There are about 33 clinical studies being (or have been) conducted in Liberia. The country of the clinical trial is determined by the location of where the clinical research is being studied. Most studies are often held in multiple locations & countries.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of three vaccine strategies that may prevent Ebola virus disease (EVD) events in children and adults. Participants will receive either the Ad26.ZEBOV (rHAd26) vaccine with a MVA-BN-Filo (MVA) boost, or the rVSVĪG-ZEBOV-GP (rVSV) vaccine with or without boosting, or placebo.
Multisite randomized trial of a parenting intervention in Liberia for caregivers of young children. Two main objectives of the "Parents Make the Difference" program are to teach parents (a) skills for decreasing harsh punishments and replacing those with positive ways to manage children's behavior and (b) skills for having more positive interactions with their children, including interactions that encourage learning. As a result of positive changes in parenting, the investigators expect that, over time, children's behavioral and cognitive well-being will improve and that future abuse and poor developmental outcomes will be prevented in the long-term.
Background: Some people have Ebola virus in their body for months after they recover from Ebola virus disease. Some may have health problems from the virus while others are fine. These people may be able to pass the virus to others. There are currently no drugs for people who have survived Ebola virus disease but still have the virus in their body. A new drug, GS-5734, might help get rid of Ebola virus in semen. Objective: To test if GS-5734 helps get rid of Ebola virus in semen and is safe for humans. Eligibility: Men who participated in the Ebola survivor study (PREVAIL III) and have evidence of the Ebola virus in their semen Design: Participants will be screened with: Questions Physical exam Eye exam Blood tests 2 semen samples if they have not had it tested recently Participants must live near the study site in Liberia for 6 months. Participants will be put into 1 of 2 study groups. They will have an infusion of either GS-5734 or a placebo every day for 5 days. A plastic tube is put into an arm vein. The infusion lasts 1 hour. Participants will be observed for 1 hour after. They will provide a semen sample on infusion day 4. After the infusions, participants will have 5 visits in the first month, then 1 per month for 5 more months. These include giving a blood and semen sample. Blood tests are performed before and after each infusion and the last visit (5 month visit) will also include an eye exam. When the study is over, if the study drug works and is safe, participants who got the placebo can get the study drug.
A cluster-randomized control trial will study the effect of insecticide-treated wall lining on malaria transmission in Bomi County, Liberia. Half of the villages enrolled in the study will receive insecticide-treated wall lining covering their walls and ceilings in addition to long-lasting insecticidal nets, while the other half will be protected by existing long-lasting insecticidal nets.
Background: - Ebola is a lethal disease. A lot is still unknown about Ebola and its long-term effects. Researchers want to learn what ill health conditions Ebola survivors have. They want to learn if Ebola survivors can infect others in their household through close contact. They also want to learn if Ebola survivors are immune from getting Ebola again. To learn these things, they want to follow people in Liberia for 5 years. Objectives: - To learn how Ebola affects the health of survivors and the people they live with. Eligibility: - People in Liberia who had Ebola in the past 2 years, who share a household with someone who had Ebola, or who got ill and went to an Ebola Treatment Unit but were sent home because they did not have Ebola. Design: - Participants will be screened with family illness history, physical exam, and blood tests. They may have an eye exam. - Ebola survivors and those who went to a Treatment Unit but did not have Ebola will visit a clinic at 3, 6, and 12 months, then every 6 months for 5 years. At each visit, they will repeat the screening tests. - Participants who live with someone who had Ebola will have only the screening visit. But they may be asked to return for follow-up visits. These visits will help researchers learn more about the differences between those who have had Ebola and those who have not. - Participants brought to the NIH Clinical Center will have documentation of positive Ebola virus PCR and a clinical syndrome compatible with acute EVD. - The study will last 5 years.
Background: - Ebola is a viral infection that can spread quickly and causes life-threatening disease. Right now there is an Ebola outbreak in many countries in West Africa. There are no approved treatments for Ebola. But possible treatments are being developed. Researchers need to study these treatments to see if they help people get better. Objective: - To identify possible Ebola treatments. Also, to learn if adding 1 or more experimental drugs to advanced Ebola care can reduce the risk of death. Eligibility: - People who have recently been diagnosed with Ebola, usually by a test called the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), and have been hospitalized in an isolation unit for treatment. Design: - Participants will be randomly assigned to Group A or B. Both groups will get advanced level care. One group will also get an experimental drug. - Participants may have blood tests. They may have another PCR test. - Researchers will try to learn how the participant got Ebola. - Participants put in the experimental drug group may start taking medicine within 24 hours of enrollment. It may be given by mouth or intravenously. Additional doses may be needed. - Participants may have a series of timed blood tests over the first 24 to 48 hours after they take the medicine. - Blood will be drawn frequently. Other body fluids (urine, stool, vaginal fluid, etc.) may also be collected. - Participants will be followed for up to 60 days. They may be evaluated for any long-term effects of the experimental treatment(s). They may be asked to return for 1 or more outpatient visits. - For consenting participants, follow-up will be extended for up to one full year past Day 58 with contact/visits every 1-3 months to assess for a history of signs or symptoms potentially consistent with late onset of virologic relapse syndrome.
Background: - Ebola virus disease (EVD) affects many people in Liberia and other countries in West Africa. It is caused by the Ebola virus and makes people sick with fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, and bleeding. About half the people with EVD die. There is no approved treatment for it. Researchers are studying two Ebola vaccines. The vaccines do not cause Ebola. Objectives: - To study the safety and efficacy of two Ebola vaccines. Eligibility: - Adults 18 and older who live in Liberia and are at risk for Ebola infection but have never had Ebola. Design: - Participants will give information including birthdate, gender, occupation, and location of home. They will give contact information for themselves and 2 alternate contacts. They will give a history of their contact with people with Ebola. Some participants may have a physical. They may have blood taken. - Participants will be injected with either an Ebola vaccine or a placebo with a needle in the upper arm. The placebo is a salt solution. - Participants will have blood taken. - Participants will be watched for 30 minutes. - Participants will return to the clinic 1 week and 1 month after they get the shot. They will have blood taken. - After that, participants will be contacted monthly to discuss how they are feeling. They may be contacted by phone, may visit the clinic, or may have a home visit. - The study ends 8-12 months after participants get the shot. If one of the vaccines works against Ebola and does not have many side effects, participants can get the vaccine if they did not get it in the study.
A Phase I/II Pilot Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) Convalescent Plasma (ECP) for treatment of EVD.
Approximately 5,200 people will participate per year. The study population will include females and males over 5 years of age who live in filariasis and onchocerciasis endemic areas. Subject selection will not be based on health status. Two sites will be studied, and each study will last for 4 years. Participants will be studied only once in cross-sectional surveys. Some subjects may be included in more than one annual population survey, but this is not a longitudinal study. Investigators will compare annual and semiannual mass drug administration (MDA) for lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis, and investigators will compare the impact of these MDA schedules on soil transmitted helminth infections. MDA will be administered by others (Liberian Ministry of Health or Liberian Institute of Biomedical Research). The investigators will test the hypothesis that semiannual mass drug administration (MDA) is superior to annual MDA for elimination of lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis and for control of soil transmitted helminth (STH) infections. 1. Compare the relative impact and cost effectiveness of annual vs. twice yearly mass drug administration (MDA) for elimination of lymphatic filariasis (LF) in these populations. 2. Compare the relative impact and cost effectiveness of annual vs. twice yearly mass drug administration (MDA) for elimination of onchocerciasis in these populations. 3. Study the impact of annual vs. semiannual MDA on soil transmitted helminth (STH) infection in these populations. Continuation Activities (2019/2020): Additional one-time cross-sectional surveys will be completed in the Harper site in Maryland district in 2019 and in Lofa in 2020 to measure the long-term impact of MDA on W. bancrofti, O. volvulus, and on STH infection parameters following these cumulative 7-9 rounds of MDA since the baseline survey taken in 2013. Since the last DOLF surveys (3rd follow-ups) in these sites in 2016 & 2017, respectively, there have been a total of 3 annual rounds of MDA in both areas. These additional surveys will recruit 2,500 participants in the Maryland area villages and 3,200 in the Lofa area villages.
The aim of this study is to assess the impact of an intervention to improve parenting practices, pre-academic and developmental skills, and use of mosquito nets for children in kindergarten in Liberia. A rigorous impact evaluation using a randomized, waitlist controlled design will be conducted to measure the impact of the intervention on three primary outcomes: positive parenting skills, children's cognitive and educational skills, and malaria knowledge and prevention behaviors.