Human Infection Challenge Studies: a Test for the Social Value Criterion of Research Ethics

mSphere. 2020 Jul 15;5(4):e00669-20. doi: 10.1128/mSphere.00669-20.

Abstract

Human infection challenge studies involving the intentional infection of research participants with a disease-causing agent have recently been suggested as a means to speed up the search for a vaccine for the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. Calls for challenge studies, however, rely on the expected social value of these studies. This value represents more than the simple possibility that a successful study will lead to the rapid development and dissemination of vaccines but also some expectation that this will actually occur. I show how this expectation may not be realistic in the current political moment and offer potential ways to make sure that any challenge trials that arise actually achieve their goals.

Keywords: COVID-19; challenge studies; coronavirus; global health; research ethics.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Betacoronavirus
  • Biomedical Research / ethics*
  • Biomedical Research / methods*
  • COVID-19
  • Clinical Trials as Topic / ethics*
  • Coronavirus Infections / drug therapy*
  • Coronavirus Infections / prevention & control*
  • Ethics, Research
  • Humans
  • Pandemics / prevention & control*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / drug therapy*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / prevention & control*
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Social Values
  • Viral Vaccines / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Viral Vaccines