Global Health Fund Invests $460,000 in Rapid Mpox Detection Test Development
A new diagnostic tool aimed at quickly identifying mpox strains is in development thanks to a $460,000 investment from the Global Health Innovative Technology (GHIT) Fund, announced on December 7, 2025. The funding will support the creation of a prototype detection test designed to address the ongoing global threat posed by the viral disease, formerly known as monkeypox.
Mpox remains a significant public health concern, with over 170,000 confirmed cases reported across 141 countries between January 2022 and October 2025, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The disease is particularly devastating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and throughout sub-Saharan Africa, where surveillance data from January to May 2024 revealed that 62% of fatalities occurred in children under five years of age, with a case fatality ratio ranging from 7 to 9% in that age group.
Although a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) declaration was lifted in September 2025, the risk of continued outbreaks and severe complications persists, particularly in neighboring countries. “Mpox cases continue to be reported, and the risk of severe complications and re-emergence remains a concern,” a senior official stated.
Currently, identifying the two main strains, or clades, of mpox presents a challenge. Existing diagnostic systems lack the necessary precision, hindering effective outbreak control. The GHIT Fund’s investment aims to overcome this limitation by supporting the development of a simple, rapid, and clade-distinguishing diagnostic test.
The project will be a collaborative effort involving NIPRO CORPORATION, a global healthcare company; TBA Co., Ltd., a venture firm originating from Tohoku University; the Japan Institute for Health Security (JIHS); the international non-profit PATH (USA); and the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB) in the DRC. Researchers will utilize the Iso-PAS method – an inexpensive and straightforward genetic testing technique – to create a prototype capable of differentiating between the two mpox clades.
“This test will enable easy testing even in facilities with limited infrastructure, facilitating prompt and appropriate treatment while helping to prevent the spread of infection,” according to a company release. The project’s ultimate goal is to achieve World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency Use Listing (EUL) for the test kit, following data collection from mpox outbreak regions.
The GHIT Fund’s commitment to infectious disease preparedness extends beyond this project. In September 2025, the fund joined the Global Research Collaboration for Infectious Disease Preparedness (GloPID-R), becoming the second Japanese organization to do so, following the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED). GloPID-R unites funders dedicated to research on emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.
The GHIT Fund, a Japan-based public-private partnership, was established by the Government of Japan, pharmaceutical companies, the Gates Foundation, Wellcome, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). It focuses on addressing neglected diseases like malaria, tuberculosis, and other tropical diseases affecting vulnerable populations. “We will continue to support the development of innovative diagnostic technologies to enable swift responses to future public health challenges,” one analyst noted.
Further details about the project, designated ID G2025-125, are available on the GHIT Fund website: https://www.ghitfund.org/investment/portfoliodetail/detail/250/en.
