Influenza Human Challenge Model

Recruiting now · Phase 1

Conditions studied: Influenza

In brief

This study examines how the immune system responds to the flu virus (H3N2) during and after infection and how the flu virus is transmitted in the environment. The study will used a flu virus called the H3N2 influenza challenge virus which was produced specifically for use in clinical research in controlled conditions. The study will also assess the safety of the H3N2 influenza challenge in healthy subjects. Mild to moderate symptoms are expected based on previous studies with this strain of influenza.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT05332899

Run by

Emory University

People needed

80

Starts

2022-05-24

Expected to finish

2027-12-01

Last updated by the study team

2026-03-27

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 49. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Provide written informed consent prior to initiation of any study procedures.
• Are able to understand and comply with all planned study procedures.
• Healthy males and non-pregnant, non-breast-feeding females aged ≥18 and ≤49 years of age inclusive at enrollment.
• Women of childbearing potential must be practicing abstinence or using an acceptable method of birth control for at least 30 days prior to enrollment through the duration of the trial. Male subjects must agree not to father a child for the duration of the trial.
• Women of childbearing potential must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test at screening and negative urine pregnancy test within 24 hours prior to challenge.
• Are in good general health, as determined by the study investigator within 30 days of challenge and do not have any of the following conditions:
• Chronic pulmonary disease (e.g., asthma or reactive airway disease, emphysema)
• Chronic cardiovascular disease (e.g., cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure, cardiac surgery, ischemic heart disease, known anatomic defects)
• Chronic medical conditions requiring close medical follow-up or hospitalization during the past 5 years (e.g., diabetes mellitus, renal dysfunction, hemoglobinopathies)
• Immunosuppression or ongoing malignancy or history of malignancy (excluding nonmelanotic skin cancer in remission without treatment for more than 5 years)
• Neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions (e.g., cerebral palsy, epilepsy, stroke, seizures)
• History of postinfectious or postvaccine neurological sequelae
• Autoimmune, inflammatory, vasculitic or rheumatic disease, including but not limited to systemic lupus erythematosus, polymyalgia rheumatica, rheumatoid arthritis or scleroderma
• Demonstrate knowledge and comprehension of the study by scoring ≥70% on a quiz of the study protocol and policies.
• Agrees to not use cigarettes, e-cigarettes, marijuana, or other tobacco products during the quarantine period.
• Agrees to not use prescription or over-the-counter medications that could impact influenza challenge efficacy or symptoms (including oseltamivir, zanamivir, peramivir, baloxavir marboxil, amantadine and rimantadine, aspirin, intranasal steroids, acetaminophen, decongestants, antihistamines, and other NSAIDs), within 14 days prior to quarantine and through the quarantine period, unless approved by the investigator.

You may not qualify if…

• Have household contact with or have daily contact with:
• Children under 5 years of age
• Children and/or teenagers who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy
• Women who are pregnant or who are trying to become pregnant
• Persons older than 65 years of age
• Persons of any age with significant chronic medical conditions such as: chronic pulmonary disease, chronic cardiovascular disease, contacts who required medical follow-up or hospitalization during the past 5 years because of chronic metabolic disease, immunosuppression or cancer, neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions
• Are healthcare workers with patient contact in the 2 weeks after influenza challenge.
• Plan to be living in a confined environment (e.g. ship, camp, or dormitory) within 2 weeks after receiving the challenge strain.
• For females, are pregnant or plan to become pregnant at any time between the Screening Visit through the duration of the trial.
• Are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed at any given time throughout the study.
• Have a body mass index (BMI) less than or equal to 18.5 and greater than or equal to 35.
• Smoke more than 4 cigarettes, e-cigarettes, marijuana, or other tobacco products on weekly basis within 60 days prior to challenge.
• Have moderate or severe illness and/or an oral temperature ≥100°F and/or diarrhea or vomiting within seven days prior to challenge.
• Have a pulse rate less than 55 beats per minute (bpm) or >100 bpm. If heart rate is <55 bpm and the investigator determines that this is not clinically significant (e.g., athletes) and heart rate increases >55 bpm on moderate exercise (two flights of stairs), subject will not be excluded.
• Have a systolic blood pressure less than 90 mmHg or greater than 140 mmHg on two separate measurements (screening and pre-challenge).
• Have a diastolic blood pressure less than 50 mmHg or greater than 90 mmHg on two separate measurements (screening and pre-challenge).
• Have long-term (≥2 weeks) use of high-dose oral (≥20 mg per day prednisone or equivalent) or parenteral glucocorticoids, or high-dose inhaled steroids for greater than 7 days in the last 3 months.
• Have an active HIV, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C infection.
• Have screening laboratory test results (white blood cells (WBCs), absolute neutrophil count (ANC), hemoglobin (Hgb), platelets) that are outside the laboratory reported normal values and deemed clinically significant by the study investigator.
• Have a serum creatinine greater than 1.1 x upper limit of normal (ULN).
• Have an alanine aminotransferase (ALT) greater than 1.1 x ULN.
• Have abnormal findings on screening electrocardiogram deemed clinically significant by study investigator.
• Have abnormal findings on screening chest X-ray deemed clinically significant by study investigator.
• Have ongoing drug abuse/dependence (including alcohol), or a history of these issues within 5 years of enrollment.
• Have positive urine/serum test for drugs of abuse (i.e. cocaine, benzodiazepines, opiates, or metabolites). Positive results for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) will not be considered exclusionary. Metabolites and amphetamines as prescribed for a documented medical condition will also not be considered exclusionary.

Where it is running

• Hope Clinic — Atlanta, Georgia, United States (enrolling)
• Emory University Hospital — Atlanta, Georgia, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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