RESEARCH

The SUPER Study

We are looking for healthy children and teenagers to take part in a study that will help us learn if a nasal spray vaccine against whooping cough can provide superior protection and reduce the spread to others.

What is whooping cough?

Whooping cough develops due to a bacteria called bordetella pertussis, which causes infection in the upper airway and the lungs. The bacteria produces toxins that cause a severe and long-lasting cough. For young babies who aren’t yet old enough to be vaccinated, a whooping cough infection can be life-threatening.

While whooping cough is not as dangerous in older children, teenagers and adults, research has found that these age groups play a major role in transmitting the bacteria throughout the community.

What does the study involve?

The study will involve attending our research clinic at Perth Children’s Hospital for four appointments, including:

• Receiving a dose of the nasal spray whooping cough vaccine and/or a dose of a whooping cough vaccine currently used in Australia or a placebo vaccine - this will be an injection in the arm. This will be ‘blinded’, meaning participants will be randomly assigned to a study group and you will not know which group you are in.

• Providing blood and nasal swab samples at each visit

• General health check-ups by the study doctor and nurses

Participation in the SUPER Study is voluntary and will be for around six months. Reasonable travel and parking costs will be reimbursed.

Find out more: https://infectiousdiseases.telethonkids.org.au/our-research/vaccine-trials-group/current-studies/the-super-study/

OPTIMUM Study (Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases)

About: The number of children suffering from food allergies appears to have risen greatly in the last 20 years. Serious allergic reactions can be life-threatening and statistics show up to 3 in every 10 Australian children develop either a food-related allergy or eczema.

Vaccines work by training the immune system to recognise what certain germs look like. Researchers believe some vaccines might also help prevent allergy by training the immune system to recognise the difference between germs that are harmful and things that are not harmful, like food. By training the immune system in this way, there is potential to prevent allergic responses to harmless substances.

The OPTIMUM Study is looking to determine whether one dose of 'whole cell' pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine given at two months of age instead of the current 'acellular' pertussis vaccine can help protect young children against allergic outcomes.

Find out more: https://infectiousdiseases.telethonkids.org.au/our-research/vaccine-trials-group/current-studies/optimum-study/

FluBub Study (Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases)

About: The FluBub Study aims to learn more about the safety and effectiveness of giving the influenza vaccine to younger babies and providing them with much-needed protection earlier in life.

Researchers will evaluate the baby’s immune response to the seasonal flu vaccine when it is given at two months of age in comparison to six months as per the current National Immunisation Program. This information may help find a better way to protect newborn babies from influenza and guide policy changes to the recommended vaccination program.

Find out more:  https://infectiousdiseases.telethonkids.org.au/our-research/vaccine-trials-group/current-studies/flubub/