Establishment of a research pharmacy to support Ebola clinical research in Liberia.

OBJECTIVE

This article describes the establishment of a research pharmacy to support the Partnership for Research on Ebola Vaccines in Liberia (PREVAIL) vaccine study for Ebola virus disease.

SETTING

This article describes the establishment of the pharmacy element to support the overall research program during an Ebola outbreak in Monrovia, Liberia, in 2014 and 2015.

PRACTICE INNOVATION: The need for the rapid establishment of infrastructure to support the Liberia-United States joint clinical research partnership in response to the emerging Ebola virus disease provided the opportunity for collaboration among Liberian and U.S. pharmacists.

PRACTICE DESCRIPTION: Resource austere and research naïve.

EVALUATION: Research pharmacy prepared and randomized 1500 vaccinations in support of PREVAIL.

RESULTS

Experiences of the Liberian and U.S. pharmacists involved in the program are described.

CONCLUSION

The partnership was successful in the conduct of the study. More importantly, the capacity for Liberian pharmacists to support clinical research was established. In addition, the U.S. team learned several important lessons that will help prepare them for responding to research needs in future infectious disease outbreaks.