Matthew J. Memoli, MD, MS
The LID Clinical Studies Unit (CSU) seeks to perform translational research studies to answer fundamental questions about human influenza and other emerging viral infections, with the aim of informing and influencing the design of future vaccines and therapies, while also striving to evaluate new products that may impact human health. By focusing on studies in healthy volunteers, the LID Clinical Studies Unit was able to continue its core work on influenza, while being able to respond quickly and assist in research on emerging infections.
The LID Clinical Studies Unit restarted influenza challenge studies in healthy volunteers in 2011, after a decade of absence of such studies in the U.S. The 1 H1N2009 influenza challenge virus prepared by the LID Clinical Studies Unit was the first to receive FDA IND approval, and the LID CSU influenza challenge model has become a primary focus of the team. The LID Clinical Studies Unit continues to generate novel influenza challenge viruses, develop validated models, and be a global leader in establishing methods and standards for performing influenza challenge and other challenge studies. LID CSU challenge studies have played a critical role in furthering our understanding of the human pathogenicity of influenza infections and in identifying protective parameters and predictors of severe disease.
Furthermore, in recent years the LID Clinical Trials Unit has initiated efforts to perform rare and difficult, but necessary clinical studies, to evaluate new vaccines and therapies, particularly universal influenza vaccines in the human challenge model and exceptionally new universal vaccines for vector-borne diseases, such as Dengue, Zika and Leishmaniasis.
Taking science from the bedside to the laboratory and then back to the bedside in the form of a product that can prevent or treat an infection is a critically important part of developing future vaccines and treatments that will have an impact. Studies like those performed by the LID Clinical Trials Unit play a key role in this process, which will lead to improved prevention and reduction of the impact of epidemics, pandemics and emerging infections.
From the journalistic team of Greek News and Radio FL
photo https://www.sri.com/research/biosciences/clinical-trials-unit-ctu/
