Human-Challenge Trials – Should we deliberately infect volunteers with Covid-19 to test a vaccine?

UKRI MRC logo headerinsight

    Stories about the people, research and work of the Medical Research Council

Human-Challenge Trials – Should we deliberately infect volunteers with Covid-19 to test a vaccine?

Covid-19 Young People

The race is on to find a vaccine for Covid-19. What are the pros and cons of deliberately infecting young, healthy volunteers, in a controlled environment, to speed up the process of finding a vaccine that works? Dr Martin Broadstock, Programme Manager for Vaccines at UKRI’s Medical Research Council (MRC), examines the issues.

Read more


The Medical Research Council is part of UK Research and Innovation.