USC Clinical Trials will soon begin a trial of a potential new mRNA vaccine formulation for COVID-19 at its Morayfield centre.

The potential new vaccine could add to the arsenal of vaccines being used to control the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on the global community. It will be tested across four clinical trial centres in Australia, as well as centres in North and Central America.

USC Clinical Trial’s Principal Investigator Dr Rob Scott will oversee the phase one trial that will assess the level of immune response generated by the investigational new vaccine.

Dr Scott said the study required healthy volunteers over 18 years old who have not had COVID-19 and have not received a COVID vaccine.

“mRNA vaccines have been fantastically successful in combating this pandemic,” he said.

“Their ability to be quickly retargeted to variants of concern is likely to be vital to future control of the coronavirus pandemic.”

USC Clinical Trials Director Lucas Litewka said while one mRNA vaccine was already part of Australia’s COVID-19 vaccination rollout, it was only available to a certain age range and eligibility profile.

“People who are not eligible for the Pfizer vaccine but would prefer to receive an mRNA vaccine might be interested in participating in this study,” he said.

Participants will be required to attend up to nine visits at USC Clinical Trials’ Morayfield centre and participate in follow-up phone calls. They will be involved in the study for up to 13 months.

Eligible participants will be reimbursed for their time on study. Those interested in volunteering can find more information at www.usc.edu.au/covid and www.covidvaccinetrial.com.au