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This article won't be news or surprising to many people here, but if you are looking for a gentle/popular introduction to what challenge trials are and why people participate in them this could be a good option.
I was pleased we volunteers were portrayed positively in the piece, here is the bit about me (though my symptoms are slightly exagerrated - I only had a somewhat reduced appetite)
1Day Sooner went on to promote challenge trials for maladies including norovirus, hepatitis-C and shigella, a bacteria that can cause dysentery. Its message inspired people like Mr. Delaney, the research assistant in England. In October 2024, he began his first trial, also on malaria.
He has since had bone marrow extracted from his pelvis as part of the study, and received the malaria parasite via infected blood through a cannula into his arm. Nine days later, his body alternated between sweating and shivering. He could hardly eat and felt lethargic. Finally, he was given tablets of an anti-malarial drug and recovered.
In total, he will receive around $11,000, which he said he planned to donate to a worthy cause. Mostly, he said, he’s happy to potentially be making a difference.
“The risk and inconvenience to me is small, but the possible benefit to the world is large,” Mr. Delaney said.
Check out 1Day Sooner for more challenge trial opportunities, possibly near you!
