DOCTORS and scientists at Oxford University are launching a safety trial for new Ebola vaccines.

The Oxford Vaccine Group, part of the university’s Department of Paediatrics, is running the trial and aims to have 72 adult volunteers vaccinated by the end of January.

This is the second Ebola vaccine trial to be carried out by Oxford University.

In September, a separate team in the Jenner Institute led by Prof Adrian Hill vaccinated 60 volunteers and initial results of that trial are expected later this month.

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Volunteers for the latest trial are expected to be aged 18 to 50, come from Oxfordshire and will be asked to make a maximum of 12 visits to the Oxford Vaccine Group at the Churchill Hospital during the year.

Oxford Mail:

Ruth Atkins became the first healthy UK volunteer to receive an ebola vaccine at the Oxford Vaccine Group Centre for Clinical Vaccinology and Tropical Medicine in September.

The study involves a prime-boost vaccine regime, in which patients are first given an initial injection to stimulate the immune system, and then a booster jab to further enhance the level of the body’s response over time.

Dr Matthew Snape, of the Oxford Vaccine Group, who is leading the study team at the Churchill, said: “The devastating Ebola epidemic in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone continues to see hundreds of new cases each week.

“If we have a safe and effective vaccine it could begin to have an impact later this year.

“The main aim is to understand the safety profile of the vaccines.”

Dr Snape, 45, a consultant in paediatrics and vaccinology, is originally from Melbourne, Australia, and has worked for the Oxford Vaccine Group for the past 11 years.

He added: “The hope is that the Ebola outbreak will stop tomorrow but that is not going to happen. It might settle over the next few months but if it doesn’t stop spreading, these vaccines will be vital.”

One of the vaccines being trialled is made by Janssen, while a second is made by Bavarian Nordic in Denmark.

“The more vaccines and more manufacturers working on this the better,” Dr Snape added.

The outbreak of Ebola in West Africa has so far claimed more than 6,000 lives.

  • Anyone who wants to take part in the new Oxford University trial should visit the website ebolavaccine.org.uk for more information.

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