Current research projects in vaccine trials
Project 1: Immune response and safety of whooping cough vaccine at birth
We are currently experiencing the worst whooping cough epidemic on record, with the highest number of cases per capita reported in South Australia. Infants under the age of 5 months, who are currently too young for full immunisation, are particularly affected. The purpose of this project is to see whether we can provide earlier protection for infants at highest risk of whooping cough infection.
At present, whooping cough (pertussis) vaccines are administered to babies when they are eight weeks old. This study will examine how early antibodies develop in babies, and the safety of administering the whooping cough vaccine to infants younger than six weeks.
Our research builds on previous studies undertaken in Australia, Italy and Germany and is funded by a $1.4 million grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council.
Started in 2010, our research is based at the Women's and Children's Hospital in Adelaide, and is being undertaken in partnership with the Westmead Children's Hospital in Sydney, the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research in Perth and the School of Population Health at the University of Melbourne. It involves 100 babies and ten researchers led by Dr Helen Marshall, leader of the Vaccine Trials Stream at the Children's Research Centre and Director of the Vaccinology and Immunology Research Trials Unit at the Women's and Children's Hospital.
Find out how you can participate in this research study.
Project 2: Evaluation of bird flu vaccine in children
The leading contender for the next influenza pandemic is H5N1, a virus found mainly in birds. Since 1997, H5N1 influenza virus has caused severe disease in hundreds of people, particularly in Southeast Asia and has since spread to Europe and Africa. Since 2003 there have been 520 confirmed cases reported to the World Health Organisation, and of those 307 people have died.
In a flu pandemic, children are often central to the spread of the disease. Vaccination of children will not only protect them from illness, but may also significantly reduce the spread of influenza throughout the community.
This study is led by Associate Professor Helen Marshall and aims to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a H5N1 influenza vaccine in children aged 6 - 35 months. It is hoped that approximately 120 healthy children in this age-group will participate in the study at four sites in Australia and two sites in Singapore. Approximately 30 children will particpate at the Women's and Children's Hospital in Adelaide. This project follows on from a previous clinical study in which 300 children aged 3 - 9 years received two doses of the bird flu vaccine, and demonstrated a high immune response. This particular vaccine is now licensed in Australia as Pandemrix.
Project 3: Study of meningococcal B vaccine in adolescents
Meningococcal B bacteria is responsible for over 80% of meningococcal infections in Australia and can be fatal in up to 20% of adolescents who become infected. At present, meningococcal B is the only type of meningococcal bacteria that does not have an approved vaccine. To date we have trialled the effectiveness of an investigational vaccine in 11-18 year olds: this project aims to build upon this work by assessing the immunogenicity and safety of the trial vaccine in young people aged 11-25 years.
Part of a larger, multi-centre study, the primary goal of our follow-up project is to learn more about any side-effects of the investigational Meningococcal B vaccine and contribute safety information necessary for licensing of the vaccine. Two in three study participants will receive the trial vaccine over a seven-month period and one in three participants will also receive the Hepatitis A vaccine and a placebo as a point of comparison.
Started in 2009, our research is being carried out at the Women's and Children's Hospital in Adelaide, in partnership with the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research in Perth, the School of Population Health at the University of Melbourne, and the Royal Children's Hospital in Brisbane. The South Australian arm of the study is being led by Dr Helen Marshall, leader of the Vaccine Trials Stream at the Children's Research Centre and Director of the Vaccinology and Immunology Research Trials Unit at the Women's and Children's Hospital in Adelaide.
