Cholera remains a major public health challenge across many low- and middle-income countries, where recurrent outbreaks continue to threaten vulnerable communities despite the availability of existing oral vaccines.

As part of ongoing efforts to strengthen health systems through evidence-based research, the Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ), in collaboration with Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital, has launched a Phase I clinical trial to evaluate PanChol, a promising new cholera vaccine candidate designed to provide stronger and longer-lasting protection against the disease.

Funded by the Wellcome Trust Foundation, the study brings together leading clinical research expertise to generate evidence that could contribute to the development of more effective cholera vaccines and strengthen global efforts to prevent future outbreaks.

The Phase I trial is assessing the safety and immune response of PanChol, a live attenuated vaccine that uses a weakened form of the cholera-causing organism to stimulate the body’s natural immune response. The study is being conducted as a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, ensuring rigorous scientific evaluation of the vaccine candidate.

Participants will be admitted to Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital for the first 14 days of the study before being followed for a total of 180 days to monitor the vaccine’s safety, tolerability, and immune response.

The launch of this trial marks another significant milestone in Zambia’s growing contribution to global health research. The findings are expected to provide valuable evidence that will inform the development of next-generation cholera vaccines capable of offering improved and more durable protection against the disease.

CIDRZ remains committed to advancing high-quality clinical research that generates evidence to inform public health policy, improve healthcare interventions, and ultimately contribute to better health outcomes for communities in Zambia and beyond.