Would you agree to be infected with COVID for science? Intentional 'challenge' studies underway as researchers explore new vaccines and treatments

Lauren Thomas, who just turned 26, is trying to get into a clinical trial at the University of Oxford, where the American is in a master's program in data science. She's seeking to be intentionally reinfected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that caused her bout with COVID-19 back in October.

 

Thomas had a mild case – just a fever. So now she's volunteering to help researchers understand the aftermath of infection, waiting to hear whether she'll get into the clinical trial. In the meantime, she's an organizer for 1daysooner, a non-profit advocacy group for people wishing to participate in research and launched in April 2020. A major focus has been joining clinical trials for COVID vaccines.

 

Why would anyone sign up for a second encounter with the virus that has shattered the world?

 

To continue reading, go to Genetic Literacy Project, where this post first appeared.