COVID-19 human challenge study

The United Kingdom is to launch world’s first human challenge study for COVID-19. This study would involve deliberately exposing volunteers to the SARS-CoV-2 to help in the understanding of the viral infection and in the development of vaccines and treatments. Around 90 healthy individuals between age groups 18 and 30 will be exposed to the first-wave strain of novel coronavirus in a safe and controlled manner. The outlay for this research is USD46.6 million.