Audio By Carbonatix
Are you sick of being healthy? Would you like to experience the coronavirus firsthand?
Look no further than the Queen Mary BioEnterprises Innovation Centre in London, which is looking for 24 volunteers to inject with the dreaded coronavirus and participate in their flu camp.
They will be paid about $4,588 for their troubles.
This isn’t the latest twisted Stephen King novel. Rather, it’s an attempt by medical research and development company Hvivo to create a vaccine for the deadly disease which has killed more than 3,800 across the globe.
The human guinea pigs — who will receive a battery of tests before being selected — will be given two of the virus’ weaker strains, 0C43 and 229E, which should cause mild respiratory symptoms. They will then be given new or existing vaccines.
Doctors — who will wear protective clothing and ventilators — will analyze the patients’ responses to the vaccine, and the results will help researchers focus on the most effective treatments in order to fast-track them.
Aside from the actual downside of being sick, participants must stay in quarantine for two weeks, eat a restricted diet and avoid human contact and exercise.
The East London-based company is just one of 20 firms joining the global race to find a vaccine that could be ready by next winter, reports the Times of London.
“Drugs companies can get a very good idea within a few months of starting a vaccine study whether it’s working or not, using such a small sample of people,” said Andrew Catchpole, Hvivo’s chief scientist.
The testing will begin once Hvivo gets the go-ahead from UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.
Latest Stories
-
This Saturday on Newsfile: Petitions against the OSP, EC heads, and 2025 WASSCE results
9 minutes -
Limit mobile phone use in schools to improve student performance — Educationist on 2025 WASSCE results
26 minutes -
Ambassador urges U.S. investors to prioritise land verification as Ghana courts more investment
41 minutes -
Europe faces an expanding corruption crisis
54 minutes -
Ghana’s Dr Bernard Appiah appointed to WHO Technical Advisory Group on alcohol and drug epidemiology
1 hour -
2026 World Cup: Ghana drawn against England, Croatia and Panama in Group L
1 hour -
3 dead, 6 injured in Kpando–Aziave road crash
1 hour -
Government to deploy 60,000 surveillance cameras nationwide to tackle cybercrime
2 hours -
Ghana DJ Awards begins 365-day countdown to 2026 event
2 hours -
Making Private University Charters Optional in Ghana: Implications and Opportunities
2 hours -
Mampong tragedy: Students among 30 injured as curve crash kills three
2 hours -
Ken Agyapong salutes farmers, promises modernisation agenda for agriculture
2 hours -
Team Ghana wins overall best project award at CALA Advanced Leadership Programme graduation
2 hours -
FIFA gives President Donald Trump a peace prize at 2026 World Cup draw
2 hours -
2025 National Best Farmer urges government to prioritise irrigation infrastructure
2 hours
