Covid-19 vaccine trials may begin in Southampton this autumn

A coronavirus vaccine candidate developed by scientists in Southampton could begin clinical trials in the city in the autumn. A £1.9 million funding boost from Innovate UK, the Government’s innovation agency, has provided support for a collaboration between Cambridge spin-out company DIOSynVax, the University of Cambridge and the University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust. The cash will allow the team to take the vaccine candidate to clinical trial. This will take place at the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Southampton Clinical Research Facility and could begin as early as autumn this year.