A VACCINE trial in the fight against Covid-19 is about to begin in one of the North East’s hospitals – and a Barnard Castle-based NHS research boss helping to deliver the study is appealing for dale residents to take part.
The trial will begin in October at the University Hospital of Hartlepool into a potential vaccine put forward by Novavax, a US pharmaceutical company, based in Maryland.
If the trial eventually leads to a successful vaccine, the UK government has signed an agreement with Novavax for 60 million doses.
The clinical trial is being co-ordinated in the region by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network North East and North Cumbria, and whose chief operating officer, Morag Burton, lives in Barnard Castle.
Ms Burton said it was rare that trials such as this took place in the region and it offered residents the chance to play their part in the search for a Covid-19 vaccine.
People in good health aged between 18 and 84 can volunteer to take part in the trial and will only be accepted if they come through a screening process before it starts.
“I live in the town and no-one knows about this, but to my mind this is one of the best opportunities there is to take part in one of these trials,” she said.
“My view is I would like to see people from my community get the same opportunities to take part as other parts of the country – we need people to take part in this to help find a vaccine.”
Ms Burton began her career as a psychologist – a role which included working with inmates at Deerbolt Young Offenders’ Institution – before moving into the research sector.
She said she would be one of those signing up to take part in the trial, explaining it is what is known as a “phase three” vaccine research study.
This means its safety has already been tested on people on two earlier occasions, and is now at a stage where it must be shown to be safe and effective before being submitted for approval and production.
“It's gone through all the correct safety testing and phase three is to see whether the vaccine works or not,” said Ms Burton.
She added: “In my job, I get to see research in action and the way that research helps us look after people and provide better health and social care.
“Having a vaccine will be a very important weapon in the war we’re waging with Covid-19.
“It’s a tribute to the quality of the health service staff andscientists in this region that these potentially ground-breaking studies are going to take place here.
“It will help us change the current course of the virus and generally keep us, our loved ones and our communities safe.
“I am going to volunteer to play my part and I hope other people will consider doing the same,” she said.
If the trial proves successful and the vaccine is approved by regulators, manufacture would be carried out using FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies’s facilities, in Billingham, to ensure that doses can be supplied as quickly as possible.
Run regionally from University of Hartlepool Hospital, part of North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, the trial will be the second Covid-19 vaccine study to be delivered within the region and will be staffed by medical and research staff from the three acute trusts in the Durham Tees Valley.
Anyone who would like to find out more about volunteering to be part of the trial, and receive further information about volunteering for clinical studies, should visit www.nhs.uk/researchcontact.
