Saint Louis University researchers are looking for a handful of volunteers who are willing to be infected with the influenza virus -- and then closely followed to study their immune response.
This is in fact called a human challenge study -- because researchers will challenge the human immune system with exposure to the flu virus. Volunteers will receive the influenza A H3N2 virus through an inter nasal delivery method under the care of a medical team.
The director of SLU's Center for Vaccine Development is Dr. Daniel Hoft. Dr. Hoft says they plan to study the body's reaction to the flu virus which may help them design better flu vaccines or better drugs to treat the flu.
Participants need to be in good health, between 18 and 45 years old and able to stay at St. Louis University's Salus Center for at least ten days.
Those enrolled in the study will be compensated for their time and participation up to $3,425 for all completed study visits and phone calls.
Interested participants should contact the Saint Louis University Center for Vaccine Development at:
Email: vaccine@slu.edu Telephone: 314-977-6333