Q: What is the Malaria Clinical Trials Center?

The Malaria Clinical Trials Center (MCTC) is a new translational research center established at Seattle BioMed to enable assessments of new malaria vaccines or drugs in human clinical trials. This is only the fourth center in the world capable of testing new malaria vaccines or drugs in humans by the malaria human challenge model, whereby participants are “challenged” with malaria under controlled conditions by the bite of an infected mosquito in order to demonstrate the efficacy of a new vaccine or drug for malaria.

Q: Are you recruiting volunteers?

We are currently recruiting volunteers for participation in our upcoming trials.  If you are between the ages of 18 and 50 and are generally healthy, you may be eligible to participate.

Q: How many volunteers will you need?

The number of participants required for each trial will vary by study design and number of trials.

Q: Do volunteers get paid?

Volunteers for clinical research trials are generally offered compensation for time and transportation. The amount varies based on the design of each study and number of required visits, and is approved by an independent oversight committee before the study begins.

Q: Are there other centers that do this sort of testing?

Yes.  Other centers in England, the Netherlands and at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) in Bethesda, MD, have been conducting human challenge trials for decades, but there is mutual recognition that expansion of the global capacity for conducting these types of trials is urgently required in order to bring new solutions to the world.

Q: What expertise is Seattle BioMed using to establish the facility?

We’re working very closely with our colleagues at WRAIR to establish this center and the malaria challenge model at Seattle BioMed as they have been conducting challenge trials for decades with an outstanding safety record and expert knowledge base. WRAIR scientists have shared their expertise and have provided the mosquitoes and malaria parasites for use in our trials at the MCTC.

Q: Is it safe to participate in malaria clinical trials?

The model of “challenging” humans in malaria vaccine trials is a well-established method that has been the mainstay of malaria vaccine and drug evaluation for decades. The type of malaria that volunteers are challenged with is a laboratory raised strain that is easy to diagnose and treat because it s very responsive to conventional malaria drugs. Other centers have conducted trials of this nature for decades with an extensive safety record. Participants challenged with malaria may develop flu-like symptoms with infection, but will be treated at the first sign of infection in the blood. Out of nearly 900 people who’ve volunteered for malaria trials at WRAIR, none have required hospitalization for malaria.

Q: How do I find out more?

If you would like more information on volunteering for a malaria clinical research trial please contact us. We can be reached by e-mail malariatrial@seattlebiomed.org or call 206.256.7101. You can also receive e-newsletter updates on the MCTC and malaria research at Seattle BioMed by subscribing to our mailing list.