Residents of eastern Congo’s Ituri province are hopeful that a new clinical trial will improve survival in the ongoing Ebola outbreak. The study began in early July. The virus causing this outbreak, identified as Bundibugyo, has no approved specific treatment or vaccine. More than 1,400 cases have been recorded and 438 deaths have been reported, according to the World Health Organization. The trial enrolls confirmed patients at the Evangelical Medical Centre in Bunia and will assess remdesivir, the antibody MBP134, or their combination. Researchers will monitor survival for 28 days after treatment initiation, said WHO research adviser Dr. Vasee Moorthy. Professor Yap Boum, head of emergency response at the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, said the study focuses on hospitalized patients. The trial will later include health workers, close contacts and others at high risk. Coordinator Professor Placide Mbala said the trial may continue for three to six months, depending on the outbreak’s trajectory. Audrey Tengetenge, a local resident, said the trial represents a rare source of encouragement. Gladys Munguro, a survivor who was discharged two weeks ago, said she will volunteer in the next phase for high‑risk individuals. Shopkeeper Nelson Dhebi expressed concern that the treatments might cause deaths and suggested that research should first involve elected officials. Mistrust in the community, overcrowded treatment centers, delays in seeking care and insecurity limiting access to conflict‑affected areas have hampered the response, according to health officials. Nearly three‑quarters of Ebola deaths have occurred outside health facilities, said Pierre Akilimali, incident manager at Congo’s National Institute of Public Health. Officials plan to expand the trial to additional sites once safety conditions improve. The trial’s progress will be watched closely to determine whether the experimental therapies can curb the spread and reduce mortality in the region.