LSTM’s Experimental Human Pneumococcal Colonisation (EHPC) team have opened a state-of-the-art research clinic in the new Accelerator building, following a charitable donation of £40,000 from Unilever.
The Accelerator Research Clinic (ARC) will facilitate advances in experimental medicines related to pneumococcal diseases using a unique human challenge model led by Dr Daniela Ferreira. The space will give the team of researchers and clinical staff from LSTM and RLBUHT, the opportunity to work with volunteers and collect samples with lab facilities onsite.
Dr Ferreira said: “The EHPC model has been used in several successful clinical trials for novel pneumococcal vaccines. Having a dedicated clinical space to carry out future developments of this model allows our work to go from strength to strength preventing pneumococcal diseases. This is particularly important in terms of pneumonia which is the biggest killer of children under the age of five worldwide.”
The long-term aim is to develop and test new vaccines which will reduce the impact of diseases such as pneumonia, meningitis, sinusitis, otitis media and sepsis. The current clinical trial is about preventing the spread of pneumococcal bacteria through handwashing. The team are currently recruiting 136 volunteers to test a Unilever product, Lifebuoy, to see if it could be used in low and middle-income countries where clean water may not be readily available.
If you would like further information or to participate in research, please contact the team on 2volresearch@lstmed.ac.uk or text 2vol to 88802. You will be paid for your participation.