Trust joins fight against global baby virus
Northwick Park Hospital Clinical Research Facility is supporting a study looking at a viral infection that affects the majority of Under 2s around the world.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is one of the leading causes of hospitalisation among infants with health organisations noting a spike in infections since the easing of Covid-19 restrictions.
In response, the HARMONIE study will look at the effectiveness of an antibody in helping avoid hospitalisation.
It will take place take at several London hospitals and around the united Kingdom in collaboration with Sanofi, AstraZeneca, and the National Institute for Health and Care Research and involve 20,000 infants across the UK, France and Germany.
Nurse Gemma Dean, whose six-week-old baby Hope is taking part in the study, said: "As a paediatric nurse, I know the dangers of RSV. To know I am doing something to support my baby’s immune system and support possible changes to healthcare for babies in the future means so much and is why I didn’t hesitate enrolling into this study."
The study, which will run until March 2023 and include new-borns to 12-month olds, will take place in more than 100 locations across the UK.
It includes a single hospital visit with a second virtual visit. Participants will be randomly assigned into one of two groups. One group will receive the antibody dose, while the other won’t receive an injection.