Posted: Tue 4th Oct 2022

Volunteers needed in North Wales for vaccine trial to help fight future COVID-19 strains

News and Info from Deeside, Flintshire, North Wales
This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Oct 4th, 2022

Researchers are urging people to take part in a new COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial in Wrexham. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The trial is researching the second-generation COVID-19 vaccine designed to deliver protection against serious infection from both current and potential new strains in adults aged 18 to 59. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The study, run by Gritstone Bio, a biotechnology company which develops cancer and infectious disease immunotherapies and vaccines, is being delivered by the North Wales Clinical Research Facility at Wrexham Maelor Hospital. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The trial is looking for volunteers that have already received either the Moderna or Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine with or without authorised boosters, and have no prior history of COVID-19 infection in the last 16 weeks (approximately 4 months). ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Dr Orod Osanlou, Principal Investigator for the study and Director of the North Wales Clinical Research Facility said: ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“This is an exciting study, which will target many different parts of the SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“It targets both the spike protein, which vaccines we currently use target, as well as other parts of the virus.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“The trial will assess whether this approach can provide better immunity against COVID-19.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Volunteers will be screened to receive at least two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. Screening assessments will include an interview to check your medical history, a physical examination, vital signs, blood samples, and a nasal swab test.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Once admitted to the trial, volunteers are vaccinated in the clinic and are monitored for 45 minutes to ensure they are feeling healthy before returning home. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

After four weeks volunteers will then receive the second COVID-19 vaccine dose. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Volunteers will also have regular medical visits to assess their health and blood samples will be taken to measure immunity to COVID-19. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Dr Nicola Williams, Director of Support and Delivery at Health and Care Research Wales, which oversees all research across Wales, said: ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Over the past few years, Wales has made a significant contribution to COVID-19 research including the vaccine trial programme.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Thanks again for everyone who is continuing to dedicate their time by facilitating and participating in this study.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

If you are interested in joining the trial, please contact BCU.Gritstone@wales.nhs.uk to arrange for an appointment, or for more information call 03000 858032. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​


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