The tragic Ebola outbreak in the African nation of Guinea in recent days is devastating to local communities but has presented a rare opportunity to advance the pursuit of a cure. The epidemic has cost the lives of 83 people so far out of 127 total cases reported. There are no approved treatments for the virus yet but one Canadian company called Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corp. has come close. And industry insiders buzzing about using the as-yet unlicensed anti-viral drug to help patients in Guinea. “There really is not much of a global market,” said Thomas Geisbert, a virologist at UTMB. But there are other motivators. “The high case fatality rates and potential for deliberate misuse are some of the main driving forces for why the U.S. government is the main funding source.” Regardless of where the funding comes from, virologists are hopeful that an approved treatment is near. In some cases, government-funded research on Ebola or other diseases has led to findings that help in other areas, another potential benefit. “From a humanitarian perspective we hope that vaccines being supported by the U.S. government could and would eventually make their way to endemic areas,” Geisbert said.