The COVID-19 vaccine is likely to be tested in Brno as well

The International Clinical Research Center of St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno (FNUSA-ICRC) is likely to be one of the institutions in which the COVID-19 vaccine will be tested. The center is now negotiating with the manufacturer to carry out the study, which should be performed with hundreds of volunteers.

Research to find an effective vaccine against COVID-19 is currently underway around the world. The World Health Organization registers 169 candidate vaccines, 26 of which are already in the final stages of testing. “A clinical study should take place in Brno in the third phase, when the vaccine is tested on a large number of volunteers and therefore a large number of side effects are not expected,” said Pavel Iványi, CEO of the International Clinical Research Center of St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno.

The FNUSA-ICRC Clinical Trials Department conducts dozens of studies at all stages. In the third phase, the vaccine and parts of the placebo are usually given to a sample of volunteers. Subsequently, the occurrence of possible side effects is observed, either through electronic questionnaires or regular check-ups with a doctor. “Vaccination studies are a great challenge for us, so far no similar one has taken place here,” said Ing. Lucie Tesárková, Head of Clinical Trials Department FNUSA-ICRC. “We would of course be happy for this opportunity and we take it as a kind of confirmation that our hospital is medically at a very high level,” added Ing. Vlastimil Vajdák, director of the St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno.

About testing a vaccine against COVID-19 at the International Clinical Research Center of St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno will decide in the coming weeks. In case of a positive response, the center will list the recruitment of volunteers.