Volunteers needed for new COVID-19 vaccine trial

20/Aug/2021     Research

Mater Research is calling for 50 adults in south-east Queensland to join the global clinical trial of a potential new protein-based COVID-19 vaccine, the latest vaccine trial being run at Mater Hospitals in Brisbane.

Mater Hospital Director of Infectious Diseases, Paul Griffin said it was hoped the new protein-based vaccine will add to the arsenal of weapons that can be used to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s vital we advance new vaccines. The SARS-CoV-2 virus continues to evolve and if we want to get the better of it, our vaccines and treatments will also need to evolve and keep pace,” Associate Professor Griffin said.

“The trial will assess the level of immune response the investigational new vaccine generates in trial participants.”

Associate Professor Griffin said while slower to develop than many other vaccines, protein-based vaccines had many benefits.

“Protein based vaccines are a more traditional approach to providing protection from viruses with a number of vaccines for other diseases based on this technology.

“Most of the COVID-19 vaccines already licenced in Australia don’t use this technology but studies with this investigation vaccine as well as other protein-based vaccines have shown very promising results elsewhere,” Associate Professor Griffin said.

“We’re hoping an additional platform should boost the available vaccine supply, which has been one of the biggest hurdles in getting more of the population better protected from COVID-19.”

Healthy adults over the age of 18 who have not had COVID-19 and who have not received any vaccination for the virus are invited to apply to join the study.

Eligible participants in the trials will receive one or two doses of the investigational vaccine, take part in diagnostic and laboratory tests and undergo health assessments for up to a year.

Clinical trials of the investigational new vaccine are being run in North and Central America, Mater Hospital South Brisbane, Griffith University on the Gold Coast and CMAX in Adelaide.

The protein-based vaccine study is the latest clinical trial being conducted by Mater Research in Brisbane.

Associate Professor Griffin’s RIO Research team at Mater Research is also conducting a clinical trial of a mRNA vaccine for COVID-19.

“Given the ongoing impacts of COVID-19, our vaccine research has potential for major global implications in our fight against the pandemic,” he said.

“The current lockdowns affecting most of our country demonstrate this virus will continue to claim lives, cause serious illness and cause disruptions until we get most of the population vaccinated. Hopefully new vaccines will help us do that.”

To find more information on participation and compensation please contact RIO Research, Mater Hospital on 07 3163 1369 or email rio.research@mater.uq.edu.au

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