9:10am Saturday 4th July 2009
HUNDREDS of volunteers are needed to take part in a clinical trial to test a new groundbreaking flu vaccine.
Researchers at Southampton General Hospital need to recruit 300 people aged between 18 and 45-years-old.
It is hoped the new jab could protect people from all strains of the illness from seasonal flu to global pandemics such as the current swine flu crisis.
Volunteers will first have a blood test to see if they are immune to a particular strain of flu. Then 26 people who do not have this i m m u n i t y will trial the new vaccine in the second part of the study.
The trial is being conducted by research staff and clinicians based at the We l l c o m e Trust Clinical R e s e a r c h F a c i l i t y (WTCRF) at Southampton and the Jenner Institute at O x f o r d University.
Existing vaccines target only the outside of the flu virus, which frequently changes and varies in different strains of the virus, meaning new vaccines are needed each year.
Novel new T-cell vaccines target the internal core of the flu viruses, which do not change very much over time or between strains.
Dr Saul Faust, director of the WTCRF in Southampton said: “The current approach to tackling flu via the coat of the virus is not adequate because strains are constantly changing, new formulas have to be developed at short notice and then people are only protected for that particular strain.
“If successful, this new type of vaccine that targets the inside of the virus, as opposed to the shell, could potentially offer p r o t e c t i o n against many d i f f e r e n t strains of influenza A, i n c l u d i n g those that cause pandemics.”
Dr Faust, a specialist in infectious diseases, added: “Such an advanced vaccine would be suitable for all ages at any time of year and, as the substance of the vaccination would not change from year to year, there would be no need for annual injections.”
If you are interested in taking part in the trial, contact recruitment co-ordinator Gemma Neal on 023 8079 6322 or e-mail gemma.neal@suht.
swest.nhs.uk.
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