Duke gets $7 million to create bird flu vaccines for clinical trials

Duke University has received a whopping amount to create bird flu vaccines for clinical trials.

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has granted $7 million to Duke Human Vaccine Institute to create H5N1 avian flu vaccines for use in clinical trials.

The amount has been granted under the agreement called Collaborative Influenza Vaccine Innovation Centers (CIVICs) which is set to create new influenza vaccines to protect against more variants of the virus and induce long-lasting immunity.

Thomas Denny, chief operating officer of the Duke Human Vaccine Institute said, "We will be developing two investigational mRNA vaccines targeting avian influenza. We expect to complete manufacturing this fall, with the goal of having vaccines ready for phase 1 clinical trials to begin in early 2025."

To keep yourself protected from bird flu, the university advises to avoid direct contact with infected birds and animals, not touch or consume raw milk and if you become sick within 10 days of exposure, isolate yourself from others.

Duke expert says there is critical need for Mpox vaccines

Mpox previously known as monkeypox is spreading in sub-Saharan Africa. Noting the risks and lack of vaccination, WHO has declared this a global health emergency in the coming time.

Dr Chris Beyrer, director of the Duke Global Health Institute, said, "There is a critical need for vaccines and international assistance to control the mpox crisis. Social and political instability in the region where the virus is currently spreading, predominantly in the South Kivu region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), will complicate efforts to stop the virus’s spread."

“There is a political and human rights dimension to this outbreak. The South Kivu region is an active conflict zone between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, with multiple militias occupying the area. It is also a locus of legal and illegal mining activity, and the majority of mpox cases in the region are among miners and sex workers who congregate around mining communities. Sex workers often travel from other countries in the region, increasing the risks that the virus will move into new areas," he said.

“All of this complicates the situation and will hugely challenge both WHO and the Africa CDC in responding. I think these dimensions get lost in much of the reporting but are important to understanding why Kivu and why now," added the Director.

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