Vaccines remain a cornerstone in the prevention of infectious diseases, a fact emphasized by the NHS in 2023. However, individual responses to vaccines can vary, with the elderly, especially those over 65, exhibiting diminished responses as their immune systems mature.
Recognizing the implications of these diverse responses on global health, a concerted effort is underway to comprehend how age influences vaccine efficacy. The University of Oxford, renowned for its collaborative ethos and specialized expertise, is uniquely positioned to delve into this crucial area.
Backed by funding from MRC/UKRI, a team of scientists, radiologists, and clinicians has united to explore and comprehend the cause-and-effect dynamics behind varying responses to vaccination.
The recently launched LEGACY03 trial, spearheaded by Oxford University’s Experimental Medicine Clinical Research Facility (EMCRF), is at the forefront of this investigation. The study scrutinizes the responses of cells in lymph nodes—small bean-shaped organs distributed throughout the body that respond to infections—both before and after administering flu and COVID-19 vaccines. The primary goal is to juxtapose the reactions to these vaccines between older and younger adults.
Volunteers, aged between 18 and 45 years or 65 years and over during screening, began participating in the trial at the EMCRF in November. Their crucial role involves extracting a small number of cells from the lymph nodes and utilizing an ultrasound scanner to visualize these nodes. Coupled with information about blood-related activities, this comprehensive data allows scientists to construct a detailed understanding of how distinct vaccines function in diverse demographics.
Cushla Cooper, Clinical Operations Lead for the EMCRF, expressed enthusiasm for the trial, stating, “We are very excited to receive the first volunteers as part of the LEGACY03 trial. EMCRF is working alongside radiologists from Oxford University Hospitals and the study team from the Oxford Vaccine Group, to conduct these trials and deliver results. This is another great example of collaboration between Oxford University and the NHS Trust aimed at bringing new solutions to enhance patient outcomes, and we’re pleased to be a part of it.”
Dr. Katrina Pollock, MRC Clinician Scientist in Vaccinology at the Oxford Vaccine Group and Principal Investigator in the LEGACY03 study, commended the tremendous response from over 700 volunteers. She highlighted the collaborative efforts of academia, clinicians, and public volunteers, supported by MRC and UKRI funding, as instrumental in generating meaningful results with global health implications.
Dr. Rajat Chowdhury, a senior specialist Consultant Radiologist at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer at Oxford University, expressed the privilege of working within a dynamic and highly-skilled multidisciplinary team. He emphasized the collective goal of developing pioneering disease-preventing medicines to protect people worldwide.
Participants in the study receive both an mRNA COVID-19 booster vaccine and a seasonal flu jab. Run by the Oxford Vaccine Group at the Centre for Clinical Vaccinology and Tropical Medicine, the trial spans a 3-month enrollment period. The insights gained from this research are expected to contribute to the design of vaccines offering enhanced protection for those most vulnerable to diseases such as flu and COVID-19.