Students needed for meningitis research

It is hoped that the study, which is being led by a professor at Sheffield University, could lead to a new vaccination programme to tackle meningitis-causing bacteria at source.

Meningococcal meningitis is caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis, which around a quarter or more of young adults carry in their throats.

Students are particularly at risk to becoming infected due to the close proximity of other students while living in shared university accommodation.

A nationwide research study into how meningitis vaccines tackle these bacteria is now looking for first and second year student volunteers to take part – and 700 are needed from Sheffield.

The research is being led by Professor Robert Read, professor of infectious diseases at Sheffield University, and is supported by the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Foundation NHS Trust.

Professor Read said: "This is an important study which will help to determine how effective the new MenB vaccine is likely to be in practice.

"We hope that the MenB vaccine will dramatically reduce the number of people who carry these potentially dangerous bacteria in their throats, and this in turn will almost eradicate this devastating disease."

Volunteers would need to visit the clinical research facility at Sheffield's Royal Hallamshire Hospital six times over 12 months as part of the study.

Vaccines will be administered during the first two visits – and, for some volunteers, on the final visit -– and throat swabs will be taken at all six visits to the hospital.

Students will also receive financial reimbursement for taking part.

For more information on the study, or to sign up, call 0114 2713339.