MADISON — The University of Wisconsin Madison is expected to launch a coronavirus vaccination trial this fall.
The trial will take place at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health in Madison.
UW Health got the news Monday morning. According to the University of Wisconsin, the school was chosen as one of the testing sites for a vaccination developed by the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca.
The University Hospital will enroll around 1,600 people in the trial over the next eight weeks and is only one of 100 hospitals across the nation taking part in this trial.
“Our entire team has been working diligently for months to bring this important clinical trial to our state, and now Wisconsinites have an opportunity to be part of solving this crisis," said Betsy Nugent, chief clinical research officer at UW Health and the School of Medicine and Public Health.
The 1,600 participants will be chosen randomly to either receive the vaccine being tested, AZD1222, or a placebo designed to look like the vaccine.
According to the school, participants are twice as likely to receive the actual vaccine than the placebo.
The study will last around two years with participants receiving regular check-ups which include physical examinations, measurements of vital signs such as blood pressure and heart rate, blood tests, and COVID-19 testing.
The school said initial phases of the trial showed "the AstraZeneca investigational vaccine delivered strong immune responses in all participants."
To be eligible for this phase of the trial, participants must be at least 18-years-old, healthy, or have medically stable chronic diseases. They also cannot have a previously confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19.
The screening, treatment, and follow-up appointments will all take place at the UW hospital and will be done by UW doctors at no cost.
If you wish to take part in the trial or want to learn more, you can email uwcovidvaccine@clinicaltrials.wisc.edu, call the hotline at 608-262-8300 or 833-306-0681, or visit the study website here.