Oxford researchers are planning a COVID-19 reinfection human challenge trial

The following article was written by Robby Bergman and was published by Medical News Today on April 22, 2021. In this article, Bergman reports on the new trial being launched by the University of Oxford which hopes to understand how reinfection works. The human challenge trial will investigate how the human immune system responds to a second SARS-CoV-2 infection [this human trial challenge is different from the trial announced in the article Experts: It is unethical to use human challenge studies for SARS-CoV-2 vaccine development].

In this trial, the researchers will reinfect study participants with the original SARS-CoV-2 variant. Participants in this trial are recovered COVID-19 patients.

Editor’s Note: If done honestly and correctly, this research will provide us with definitive proof on the importance of harnessing natural immunity against SARS-CoV-2. This will become a landmark study as it has it will show to us just how powerful the human immune system is.