The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) of India recently put forward a proposition to facilitate the development of new influenza vaccines, employing the Controlled Human Infection Model (CHIM). This approach involves infecting trial volunteers with infectious viruses or bacteria under professional supervision.
Traditional vaccines typically consist of a weakened virus or bacteria form that causes diseases, which once injected into the body triggers the immune system to produce antibodies. These antibodies subsequently protect against future infection. However, years of vaccine development has often revealed that vaccines effective in small groups may not function as expected on larger populations or varying geographical locations.
The CHIM Approach to Vaccine Development
The CHIM approach accelerates scientific progress by enabling researchers to efficiently determine a potential vaccine candidate’s efficacy in humans and identify factors that dictate why some vaccinated individuals get sick while others don’t. Familiarity with the CHIM model also assists in creating clinical investigators specializing in vaccine development.
One example of CHIM model usage comes from the Hyderabad-based biotech company, Bharat Biotech. They recently utilized the CHIM approach to formulate a Typhoid vaccine. Despite its licensure in India, the vaccine’s efficacy was evaluated by infecting human volunteers at Oxford University in the U.K., not in India.
Risks and Ethical Concerns
While promising, the CHIM method raises certain risk and ethical issues. It is pertinent to note that intentionally infecting healthy individuals with an active virus—ultimately causing illness—contradicts medical ethics.
Additional Applications of CHIM
In addition to its influence on vaccine development, the CHIM approach can also aid in studying bacterial or enteric viruses, such as cholera, prevalent in India.
Relevant Facts
| Department Proposing the Model | Department of Biotechnology (DBT), India |
|---|---|
| Vaccine Developed Using CHIM | Typhoid Vaccine by Bharat Biotech |
| Location of Human Trials for Typhoid Vaccine | Oxford University, U.K. |
| Pros of CHIM Method | Speeds up vaccine development and understanding of virus behavior |
| Cons of CHIM Method | Raises ethical concerns due to intentional infection of healthy individuals |
Potential of CHIM in Future Research
Despite the associated risks and ethical implications, the potential benefits that the CHIM approach brings to vaccine development and understanding disease behaviors could be monumental in future research. With proper precautions and ethical considerations, this method could revolutionize our approach to developing effective vaccines for varying populations and geographical locations.
Last Modified: February 6, 2024