University of Queensland to begin COVID-19 vaccine human trial
Darren CartwrightAAP
Monday, 13 July 2020 6:59AM
A University of Queensland COVID-19 human vaccine trial has begun
University of Queensland scientists are expected to release more details today about a human trial for a COVID-19 vaccine that gives hope of a breakthrough in combating the virus. The human testing of the “molecular clamp” vaccine candidate, to start today, follows encouraging results from animal testing trials conducted in the Netherlands. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has praised UQ for their search for a vaccine and is encouraged by the advances they have have made so far.
“We have great scientists in Queensland and they are doing a remarkable job so we wish them all the very best as they undertake these trials,” she said. “We know UQ is at the forefront of some of the work they’re doing and they’ll be making further announcements.” Professor Robert Booy, head of Clinical Research at the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance, said the animal trials would have “ticked all the boxes” allowing the human testing to go ahead. “There is no way the research team would be able to progress from animals to humans without a complete guarantee of safety and they would likely have a confidence in its effectiveness,” the Sunday Mail in Brisbane reported. There are more than 130 vaccines in the works around the world but UQ’s work is believed to have shown great success in the pre-clinical stage of development.
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