Wattendorf said the effort is based on prior, early stage research with drugmakers Novartis and Sanofi looking at whether they could make vaccines out of ribonucleic acid, or RNA.

"What was particularly intriguing about RNA was that it has no chance of integrating into the human genome," he said. The effect was temporary.

Initially, the technology was being developed in hopes of protecting soldiers from seasonal flu or germs that cause diarrhea on the battlefield, but the Ebola outbreak presented an opportunity to accelerate the research.

To succeed, researchers will need to identify an effective delivery system to carry the genetic instructions into the body and learn how to quickly identify the most protective antibodies. The goal is to get the process down to 90 days for most diseases, Wattendorf said.

The group is in the process of characterizing several Ebola antibody candidates to find which are the most potent, Ahmed said. At that point, the researchers and DARPA will seek out drug company partners.

Testing in people could begin within two years, with the goal of having a better weapon for the next Ebola outbreak.