Promega’s HiBiT-PsVLP Bioassay will be used in the development of vaccines for infectious viral diseases and help support a collaboration between Charles River and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations’ (CEPI’s) Centralised Laboratory Network, the company announced today.

According to a release, the bioassay helps researchers to safely clone components of a virus without requiring the actual harmful virus particles.

“The assay is simple, safe and convenient,” Promega Research Scientist Jonathon Mitchell said in a statement. “It allows the team to generate critical data for vaccine development without handling dangerous infectious viral particles.”

The assay will help researchers characterize neutralizing antibodies produced in response to vaccines, first focusing on vaccine candidates being developed against Ebola Sudan and Marburg viruses.

Charles River will be the first to use the HiBiT-PsVLP Bioassay to generate non-clinical data that will be shared with other members of the network.