The Trust has been selected to host the National Institute for Health Research’s (NIHR) regional site in the West Midlands where a 12 month study will take place to test the effectiveness of the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine candidate.
The study will test the safety and effectiveness of the investigational vaccine, developed by US biotechnology company Novavax, across a wide range of people including those from a range of age groups and backgrounds. Phase 3 studies involve many thousands of people, giving researchers more insights into the effects of a vaccine on a much larger population than phase 1 and 2 studies.
Neil Carr, Chief Executive of MPFT said: “We have all been fighting the coronavirus and we have all had to make significant changes to our lives. But in that fight we know that one of the key milestones is going to be a vaccine which is effective.
“With this in mind I am delighted to announce that Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust will be leading local efforts to find a vaccine for Covid-19 with support from with our partners at the National Institute of Health Research, Clinical Research Network West Midlands, Keele University and local colleagues within Primary Care.
Neil added: “The study will test the effectiveness of the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine candidate and will be led by the Trust’s highly skilled and experienced Research and Innovation Department who specialise in research and clinical trials. This is an important opportunity to be part of ground-breaking research which has the potential to have a significant impact on public health.”
The vaccine study has sites across the United Kingdom and aims to recruit a total of 9,000 volunteers, some of whom will be drawn from the NHS Vaccine Registry. The West Midlands study based in Staffordshire aims to recruit 500 suitable local volunteers. People who are from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, as well as those with long-term health conditions are encouraged to be part of the vaccine research.
Ruth Lambley-Burke, Head of Research and Innovation at the Trust said; “Clinical research is extremely important in the fight against COVID-19 and we are pleased to play our role in the phase 3 Novavax clinical study in the West Midlands.”
NIHR CRN West Midlands Clinical Director, Professor Jeremy Kirk: “Without the selflessness of those who are willing to help researchers find an effective vaccine, our chance of fighting COVID-19 would be much reduced, so we are incredibly grateful to all those who volunteer.”