Urgent call for 500 Plymouth volunteers for COVID-19 vaccine study
A number of people are needed to take part at Derriford Hospital
A new COVID-19 vaccine study is calling on 500 Plymouth volunteers to sign up.
It is going to test the safety and effectiveness of a new two-dose regimen, which has been developed by The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson.
Over 30,000 people will be recruited worldwide, but a number of people are needed to take part at Derriford Hospital.
The study will be run by researchers at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, from the Derriford Centre for Health and Wellbeing, on the hospital grounds.
Dr Claire Bethune, Consultant Immunologist at the Trust, will lead the study locally. She said:
"This is a great opportunity for the people of Plymouth to contribute to the global effort against COVID-19.
"It's likely that we will need a range of treatments to prevent COVID-19, some may work better for different scenarios. Trials like this are key in unlocking these potentials."
Dr Gary Minto, UHP's Director of Research, Development and Innovation added:
"It is typical of the Plymouth community that so many people have already come forward to help, standing with the University Hospitals Plymouth staff in the fight against the Coronavirus.
"Our Research, Development and Innovation team are going above and beyond in order to make this possible.
"We are also seeing a big contribution from our pharmacy and laboratory team and student nurses from the University of Plymouth are also volunteering to help."