Urgent swine flu study held at university

Published on Tuesday 25 August 2009 09:42

SCIENTISTS at Edinburgh University are taking part in an "urgent" £2.25 million research project into swine flu.

An evaluation of vaccine effectiveness will be led by the university's Dr Colin Simpson.

The research forms part of a UK-wide study, started this week at 14 research centres, and fast-tracked by the National Institute for Health Research.

Professor Dame Sally Davies, from the department, said: "We are rapidly learning about the emerging swine flu risk – solid clinical and scientific evidence must be at the heart of this.

"The research projects will ensure the UK remains well armed to respond to swine flu, help prevent infection and save lives."

Further studies are taking place at Leicester, Nottingham, Newcastle, Sheffield, Manchester and London.

Tests will be carried out on children and adults, with results available to the NHS in the autumn.

Experts currently know very little about the H1N1 virus, making it hard to predict how many people are likely to catch it and how best to treat them if they do.