Finding treatment for flu is more important than ever – and you can help

Doctors and scientists were battling with viruses long before COVID-19 entered our world, and influenza is generally considered as the virus that causes the greatest potential risk to our health.

In the UK, flu kills on average about 11,000 people and hospitalises many more every year.

While death rates were low in 2020-21, when social distancing was the norm, we all hope to be back to a more normal way of living moving forward. That means that flu will have the chance to circulate again as winter comes around.

With so few people affected over the last couple of years, our immunity may have waned, and scientists fear it could come back with a surge.

Flu could find it even easier to take hold in the next couple of years. And that makes it more important than ever to continue clinical research to find effective treatments.

And you can help.

What is FluCamp?

FluCamp is all about improving the overall health of the population, through research and development of new treatments to fight common viral and respiratory illnesses.

They run clinical trials using a human challenge model, giving suitable volunteers both a treatment designed to fight an illness as well as the virus itself.

Cold and flu often cause very mild or even asymptomatic disease in young and healthy people, but the very same infection can be life threatening to those who are very young, very old, or immunocompromised.

By infecting healthy people, FluCamp can study disease and test effective treatments, so that when the next flu season comes around, better treatments will be available for those that need them.

If you’re aged 18-55, generally healthy and interested in being paid thousands of pounds for your time, FluCamp’s clinical trial could be for you.

What are the benefits of taking part in FluCamp?

It’s an amazing feeling to know you’ve played a role in developing effective treatments for those that need them by taking part in a FluCamp clinical trial.

Participants are also paid for their time and contribution.

This includes up to £4,200 for a 16-day residential stay.

Everyone who signs up receives a free full health check-up during screening.

Participants choose FluCamp for several reasons, including the chance to have a break from studying, working or both.

Are there any risks involved?

Before you agree to a clinical trial, the entire study will be explained to you, along with any potential risks. You are free to withdraw at any point if you change your mind.

FluCamp takes your health seriously. Precautions are in place to minimise risk to anyone who takes part in their clinical trials.

To be included in the trial, you’ll be screened to confirm you meet all the criteria set out for inclusion, to make sure it’s safe for you to take part.

Unlike many other paid clinical research for healthy volunteers, before reaching FluCamp, the medication will have already been tested on humans and passed strict safety tests.

A new facility in Deansgate

FluCamp has recently opened a new screening facility in Deansgate – a new state of the art clinic boasting a spacious 96m2 floor plan that gives volunteers the room to relax during their blood drawing and health checks.

Two private consultation rooms allow the FluCamp physicians to now perform full health checks, meaning that volunteers are no longer required to travel all the way down to London to find out if they will be eligible – saving both time and money.

You could play a vital part in the testing and development of new medical treatments which could help thousands of vulnerable people.

Just click below to find out more and sign up.