Emory joins NIH-sponsored study for COVID-19 vaccine

Developed by Massachusetts-based Moderna, Inc., the vaccine is based on messenger RNA which signals the body to make a viral protein. It does not contain the virus and cannot cause infection.

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“The COVID-19 pandemic has caused substantial morbidity and mortality in the US and worldwide along with causing massive social disruption,” said principal investigator, Dr. Evan Anderson in a statement. “The Emory VTEU is proud to contribute to enrolling people into this critical Phase I study evaluating the first vaccine candidate against COVID-19.”

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The trial aims to enroll about 45 participants in Seattle and Atlanta. Eligible participants must be ages 18 - 55 and cannot have chronic diseases or health conditions that affect the immune system nor can they be taking immunosuppressive medications.

Participants will be given one of three possible doses 28 days apart, according to study sponsor, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) part of the National Institues of Health. The expected date of completion is June 2021.

Earlier this month, the chief medical officer for Moderna, Tal Zaks, told STAT that scientists at NIH are "working on nonclinical research in parallel"indicating a departure from the traditional model of testing a vaccine to see if it prevents infection in animals before testing it in humans.

Emory has been part of NIAID’s research consortium since 2007.

Emory is also one of the sites hosting clinical trials for Remdesivir, the potential COVID-19 treatment that is farthest along in clinical tests.