Seattle Biomedical Research Institute is searching for volunteers to test new vaccines

Seattle Biomedical Research Institute finally has moved into clinical trials with a whole organism genetically attenuated malaria vaccine. The largest independent, non-profit organization in the United States is in need of extra volunteers to be bitten by a malaria-carrying mosquito in order to test vaccines.

Photo: Seattle Biomedical Research Institute is searching for volunteers to test new vaccines

Seattle Biomedical Research Institute is searching for volunteers to test new vaccines

Does it sound safe? Researchers try to persuade everyone that they want to find out which vaccines are the most effective. And to crown it all they offer compensation. Each participant will receive $2,000 from the Institute just for one sting.

As part of a broad global initiative to fight malaria, SBRI developed its Malaria Program in 2000, with an initial grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. With a three-pronged approach, SBRI's Malaria Program is focused on vaccine discovery for pregnancy malaria, severe malaria in children and liver-stage malaria. In 2005, SBRI received two Grand Challenges in Global Health grants to accelerate its malaria research. Out of 43 grants awarded worldwide, only two organizations received two awards: SBRI and Harvard University.

In addition, SBRI together with the PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative is going to build a new vaccine-testing center in Seattle ’s south Lake Union neighborhood, called the Human Challenge Center.

The experiment will last within 11-14 days: 9-11 days for symptoms to appear and 3 days for treatment itself. Volunteers will stay in a local hotel and they will not be isolated.

Photo: icmrt.org