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Paid opportunity to participate in UCL medical research study aimed at improving DNA vaccination in humans

27 November 2014

We are a UCL Division of Medicine translational research team based at the Royal Free Campus in Hampstead.

Needle In collaboration with the MRC Jenner Laboratory at the University of Oxford, we are testing a mechanism of improving the human body's response to DNA vaccination, which has the potential to greatly improve treatment of many human diseases.

We have previously advertised and had a spectacular response - a big thank you to all the volunteers who have participated previously. We are now looking for further volunteers.

Who can take part?

In order to participate you must be:

• Male

• Aged 18 to 50

• HIV-negative

• Healthy

What will it involve?

If you choose to participate, you will receive 3 infusions ('drips') and 5 vaccinations (injections into your upper arm muscle) over a 24 week period. There will be 17 study visits in total; 3 of these will involve an overnight stay and the rest will be short (ranging from 1 to 4 hours). You will also be required to give a blood sample at each study visit during this time. 

When, where and how much?

All visits will take place at The Royal Free Hospital. The 3 overnight stays will be at the Private Patients Unit; all other visits will be at the UCL National Amyloidosis Centre http://www.ucl.ac.uk/amyloidosis/nac.  You will be compensated for your time and effort in taking part - £50 for each short visit, £150 for each overnight visit and a £50 bonus if you complete the study. 

What will happen to my information?

We will follow ethical and legal practice and all information about you will be handled in confidence.

Why is participation important?

DNA vaccination works well and stimulates excellent protective immunity against a variety of different infections, and even some cancers, in many animal species, but in humans it has not been effective. This is a proof-of-concept study testing a method of improving the human response to DNA vaccination. A successful outcome of the study will open the way to use of prophylactic and therapeutic DNA vaccination against major infections including HIV, malaria and tuberculosis, and also cancer, with enormous potential health and economic benefits.

Who should I contact?

For more information please contact one of the following:

Thirusha Lane t.lane@ucl.ac.uk

Sheila Jones sheila.jones@ucl.ac.uk

Julian Gillmore j.gillmore@ucl.ac.uk 

We look forward to hearing from you.

The study is sponsored by UCL, funded by the MRC and has been approved by an independent Research Ethics Committee (ref. no. 13/LO/0090).

Thirusha Lane, Lead Nurse, National Amyloidosis Centre

Centre for Amyloidosis and Acute Phase Proteins UCL Division of Medicine