UK Launches World’s First COVID-19 Human Challenge Study
What You Should Know:
– This week, the United Kingdom (UK) will be the first country in the world to run a COVID-19 human challenge study, following approval from the UK’s clinical trials ethics body.
– First Covid-19 human challenge study will begin within a month, after receiving ethics approval in the same week the UK hits target of offering first dose to 15 million people.
– Researchers call on healthy young people to volunteer for the study, which will play a key role in developing effective COVID-19 vaccines and treatments.
Backed by a £33.6 ($46.5 USD) million UK government investment, the first-of-its-kind study for this virus will involve establishing the smallest amount of virus needed to cause infection, which will give doctors greater understanding of COVID-19 and help support the pandemic response by aiding vaccine and treatment development.