The video features work by Associate Professor Katrina Pollock, MRC Clinician Scientist in Vaccinology at OVG, as she discusses the LEGACY trial (Lymph nodE single-cell Genomics AnCestrY and ageing) - a research effort particularly focused on understanding why older adults, especially those over 65, often have weaker immune responses to vaccines which is a challenge that could have significant implications for global public health.
Vaccines remain the most effective tool in the fight against infectious diseases. Yet, as Professor Pollock highlights in the video, not all vaccines work equally well for everyone. Age, in particular, is a key factor in determining how the immune system responds to vaccination, and understanding these differences is crucial for developing more effective vaccines.
The video explains how the LEGACY03 trial examines immune responses in the lymph nodes; these are small, but vital organs that play a key role in fighting infections and in making responses to vaccines. The study compares responses to flu and COVID-19 vaccines between younger adults (aged 18-45) and older adults (65+), with the goal of uncovering insights that could lead to better, more tailored vaccines.
"We have had over 700 people volunteer to be part of the study, which is a phenomenal response to our appeal," Professor Pollock explains. "The collaborative efforts of academia, clinicians and public volunteers, in tandem with MRC / UKRI funding to support this vital study, mean we can generate meaningful results that will benefit public health globally.”
The study, which welcomed its first volunteers in November 2023, is a collaborative effort involving radiologists, scientists, and clinicians from across Oxford University and Oxford University Hospitals. Volunteers are helping researchers by providing small samples of cells from their lymph nodes, which will be analysed to create a detailed picture of how different vaccines work across different age groups. This data, combined with blood analysis, will help researchers understand why certain groups respond less effectively to vaccines and how these vaccines can be improved.
The video provides a behind-the-scenes look at the cutting-edge research that could shape the future of vaccine design and improve public health outcomes globally.
Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3ciMvYkuhw