In an attempt to study the reaction of the human immune system to the onset of influenza, the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) is currently looking for volunteers for its research project.
For a sum of $3,000, individuals who sign up for the NIH research program will need to voluntarily be infected with a flu virus so that scientists can gather more data about the infection. A total of 100 volunteers will have a solution that contains flu virions squirted up their nostrils.
As of today, 24 volunteers have already signed up for the program and the initial trails are underway. The program will be conducted at a location in Bethesda, Md. As the volunteers go through each stage of the influenza infection, researchers will gather data about how their bodies react to the virus.
"Researchers want to know if a certain type of antibody in the blood affects whether people get influenza (the flu)," said the NIH in a post on their site. "They will study 2 different groups with different levels of anti-HA antibodies and expose them to the flu virus. They will study how the flu develops in a healthy person. This may lead to future studies to develop new vaccines and treatments for the flu."
While the compensation may seem worth all the trouble dealing with symptoms of the flu, not everyone can sign up for the study. The NIH has posted a variety of requirements for individuals who want to volunteer. Requirements include being between the ages of 18 to 50 years. Moreover, volunteers need to be amenable to spending a minimum of 9 days in isolation. The full list of requirements has been posted on the NIH site.
Aside from studying the effect of the virus on the immune system, the researchers will also conduct surveys to gather more data about the condition of the volunteers. Moreover, the researchers will also be gathering a variety of biological samples like nasal fluids. Scientists are hoping that the data obtained during the study as well as the biological samples collected will be able to help medical professionals unlock the key to treating the flu.
