We are looking for healthy volunteers aged 18-55 to take part in the GERMINATE study

We are looking for healthy volunteers aged 18-55 to take part in the GERMINATE study

This is a two-arm, non-randomised, open-label experimental medicine study to compare immune responses between healthy volunteers aged 18-55 years receiving either an influenza vaccine or the H3N2 flu virus.


If you're interested in taking part, please read the participant information sheet, then click below to register your interest.

This is a two-arm, non-randomised, open-label experimental medicine study to compare immune responses between healthy volunteers aged 18-55 years receiving either an influenza vaccine or the H3N2 flu virus.


If you're interested in taking part, please read the participant information sheet, then click below to register your interest.

GERMINATE: GEneRating Mucosal immunity after INfluenzA infection and vaccination in lung and lymphoid TissuE

Pre-screening

Pre-screening

Initially, participants will attend for a pre-screening visit to assess their existing immunity to flu.

Initially, participants will attend for a pre-screening visit to assess their existing immunity to flu.

Full screening

Full screening

If they meet our criteria, participants may then be invited to the full screening visit.

Arm assignment

Arm assignment

Participants who are eligible after screening will either join the vaccine arm and receive a flu vaccine, or they will join the challenge arm and be deliberately infected with the H3N2 flu virus.  

Participants who are eligible after screening will either join the vaccine arm and receive a flu vaccine, or they will join the challenge arm and be deliberately infected with the H3N2 flu virus.  

🦠

Challenge arm

  • The challenge arm involves a baseline visit on Day -14 (14 days before) the residential stay.

  • Participants will be admitted to the residential facility on Day -1 (one day before) they are to be deliberately infected with the flu virus.

  • Participants will then remain in the residential facility until Day 8 if they remain uninfected, or until Day 10 if they become infected with flu.

  • After this, participants will return for outpatient follow up visits on Day 14, Day 28, Day 90 and Day 180.

  • Participants will undergo nasal biopsies OR bronchoscopies which will be explained in detail by the study team.

💰

Participants in the challenge arm will be paid up to £2,835 for time and inconvenience.

💉

Vaccine arm

The vaccine arm of this study is now closed for recruitment.

Join the study!

If you're interested in taking part please click below to register your interest and a member of the study team will get in touch with you.

This study was given a favourable ethical opinion for conduct by the London Fulham REC.

Join the study!

If you're interested in taking part please click below to register your interest and a member of the study team will get in touch with you.

This study was given a favourable ethical opinion for conduct by the London Fulham REC.

Join the study!

If you're interested in taking part please click below to register your interest and a member of the study team will get in touch with you.

This study was given a favourable ethical opinion for conduct by the London Fulham REC.

All rights reserved. Copyright 2026.

All rights reserved. Copyright 2026.