As we all know medical research and development can take an agonisingly long time, especially for those of us trying to keep the Crohn’s at bay until the vaccine is ready. For this reason we don’t like to interrupt the work going on at the Lab too frequently. However today I spent a couple of hours there, and I am able to share good news.
I was there with Amy today, primarily to donate some more of my blood to enable them try out the third possible replacement flow cytometer. Professor Hermon-Taylor is very grateful for all the money that has come in so far and really hopes that there is enough in the pot for him to be able to get the new flow cytometer as soon as possible as he is keen to crack on. To help, you can donate here.
I was also lucky enough to be able to sit down with the Professor and look at some of the images being produced now. MAP infected cells are shown clearly and different types of cells can even be identified. There is so much more detail on the images since the last time I visited the Lab earlier this year and everyone is very excited. There is a real feeling of the beginning of a new term.
And if that wasn’t already enough good news this photo shows the signing of THE contract, which took place yesterday. This is Professor Hermon-Taylor with the team from HVL signing the contract for the manufacture of the MAP vaccine by Oxford University’s Clinical BioManufacturing Faculty. This is the vaccine that will be used for the human trials. It’s really happening!