Our virus challenge models offer a new and exciting alternative for testing anti-virals or drugs that reduce the symptoms associated with asthma and COPD exacerbations. Virus challenge models can be used to test both proof of concept or proof of mechanism in a shorter time span, and at a fraction of the cost, compared to the traditional randomised controlled trial (RCT) design used to test efficacy of new drugs for the asthma and COPD market.

We offer the rhinovirus (RV) challenge model in the following volunteer groups:

• Healthy non-smokers
• Smokers without airway obstruction
• Asthma patients
• COPD patients
• Healthy older persons
• Chronic cough patients

We offer the respiratory synctial virus (RSV) challenge model in the following volunteer groups:

• Healthy non-smokers
• Healthy older persons

We also offer the following sampling techniques to complement our models:

Lower airways

• Lung function/Spirometry 
• Histamine (PC20) challenge
• Bronchial biopsy
• Primary bronchial epithelial cell brushings including culture ex vivo
• Synthetic absorptive matrix (SAM) sampling of lower airways (bronchosorption)
• Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL)
• Induced sputum
  
• Immune cell analysis in lower airways by state-of-the-art flow cytometry

Upper airways

• Nasal curettage for gene expression or flow cytometry
• Nasal brushings including culture ex vivo
• Synthetic absorptive matrix (SAM) sampling of nasal mucosa (nasosorption)
• Immune cell analysis in upper airways

Our research has been published in high profile journals and presented at several international conferences. To view some of the publications that have used our virus challenge models, please click here.