The Allergy Research Study Team at St. Mary’s Hospital is inviting parents of babies up to the age of 12 months to consider taking part in a research study which is looking at how strongly babies can be protected from serious illness due to RSV infection.
RSV is a common seasonal virus that infects nearly all babies by their second birthday. Most of the time it causes a mild illness, like a cold. However, for some babies it leads to more severe lung problems such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia.
RSV infection is unpredictable and is a leading cause of hospitalisations in babies. Most hospitalisations due to RSV occur in otherwise healthy babies, and it is difficult to know which babies will develop severe disease requiring medical care.
Taking part in the HARMONIE Study could help prevent many infants from severe illness.
The study is carried out over a 12month period and will involve parents attending one visit to the Allergy Research Centre at St Mary’s Hospital and keeping a monthly online diary of their baby’s health.
Parents will also be invited to take part in an end of study phone call with the Study Team 12 months after the study visit.
Recruitment to the HARMONIE Study closes on 28 February 2023.
