Global first for University Hospitals Plymouth in recruitment for COVID-19 vaccine trial
More than 500 volunteers have signed up for the international study
University Hospitals Plymouth (UHP) has become the first research site in the world to recruit more than 500 volunteers for an international COVID-19 vaccine trial.
The study - known as ENSEMBLE 2 - launched in November last year, is aiming to recruit up to 30,000 people worldwide in order to test the safety and effectiveness of a new vaccine.
"We were taken aback by the sheer numbers of volunteers who came forward to participate in the trial when it first launched.
"The Plymouth community and surrounding area have been exceptionally supportive of our work, so much so that we are the first site in the world to hit the recruitment target of 500. It's amazing and we are incredibly grateful."
Dr Claire Bethune - Consultant Immunologist and Principal Investigator
As it stands, the research team at UHP have also consented, screened and randomised more participants than any other site.