Global human challenge consortium to push for next generation of vaccines

An international group of researchers specialising in human challenge studies is embarking on a project to develop advanced virus-blocking vaccines. The global consortium will lay the crucial groundwork needed to develop the next generation of COVID-19 vaccines that could stop SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses from infecting people in the first place. Led by Imperial College London, the project will be co-funded by US $57m (£44m) from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Programme and CEPI (the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations). The work will see scientific teams and organisations from around the world begin by selecting particular viruses and identifying the best conditions under which to safely induce infection. Researchers at multiple clinical research facilities will then use these viruses to try to infect healthy volunteers who have received an experimental vaccine. Next generation vaccines Unlike traditional vaccines which are injected into muscle, these experimental vaccines will be inhaled into the lungs or sprayed in the nose...