Oxford University is launching the world’s first medical trial that will deliberately expose participants to the COVID-19 virus.
The study will be aimed at evaluating the immune system’s response to the virus, according to a statement from the university.
Researchers are looking for people who have either already had COVID-19 or who have been vaccinated.
Volunteers will be exposed to the original strain of the COVID-19 virus, before researchers gauge their response to another infection of the virus.
“The aim of this trial is to find out what level of immune response — antibodies and T cells — we need in our bodies to prevent infection when healthy people are exposed to the virus,” said Helen McShane, lead investigator and professor of vaccinology at the department of pediatrics, University of Oxford.
“If we know what level of immune response we need the vaccine to induce, it will make future vaccine development much quicker and much more efficient,” McShane added.
According to the news release, “The participants will be quarantined in a specially designed hospital suite for a minimum of 17 days under the care of the research team.
“They will undergo numerous medical tests including CT scans of the lungs and MRI scans of the heart. The risks to participants will be minimized by making sure that those who take part are completely fit and well and, if applicable, have completely recovered from their first infection with COVID,” the university said.
The study began in April 2021 with its first phase to establish the lowest dose of the virus, which is the original strain from Wuhan, China, that can infect and replicate in approximately 50% of participants, but cause minimal symptoms, according to the statement.
Participants should be between 18-30 years old in excellent health who either 1) have already had COVID-19 and are either vaccinated or unvaccinated against it, or 2) have no previous history of COVID-19 infection but have received a vaccine against it.