Oxford University is looking for volunteers to catch the virus all in the name of Science.
It is the world’s first medical trial that is authorised to get participants infected with the virus and it is looking for volunteers who are willing to get infected so that they can explore more on better vaccines.
Phases
The research has two phases and it is currently in its first phase.
The first phase seeks to find out how much viral load is needed for a person to get infected and the second phase seeks to find out how much immunity is need by a person to prevent the person from getting infected.
Researchers are now close to finding out the least possible viral load that can get half of the volunteers exposed to be asymptomatic or have mild infection.
After that, they plan to get all the volunteers who were either recovered or vaccinated to the same viral load of the original virus to determine how much antibodies or immune T-cells are required to prevent infections.
The result of the tests will then give the researchers the information that they need to make a new vaccine.
Finding out how much reaction is needed
Immunologists from around the world have been trying to find out how much immune reaction is required by a vaccine to prevent infection.
Once they have found out how much is needed, there will be no need for so many trials.
Scientists have been using humans as test subjects to develop vaccines and treatments against many diseases and this is the first time it is using it against the virus.
The only negative effect of using humans is the amount of harm it will cause to the volunteers but Oxford will be taking necessary precautions.
Eligibility
Volunteers who wish to participate must be healthy and between the ages of 18-30.
They will also have to go through a 17 days quarantine and those who get any symptoms will be treated by Regeneron’s monoclonal antibody treatment Ronapreve.
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