CHIP (Childhood Health and Immunity) Study
In collaboration with the Fiona Wood Foundation, we enrolled young people aged 11-13 who were due to get their Year 7 vaccines to take part in the Childhood Health and Immunity Post-Burn Study.
Previous research in children with burn injuries indicate that a burn injury can impact the immune system, reducing its ability to function normally. Vaccine effectiveness may be reduced, and analysing blood samples can help researchers understand the reasons behind it.
The CHIP Study involved administering routine vaccines to see at how well the immune system is working and help researchers better understand the long-term impact of a burn injury on the immune system. Knowledge gained from the CHIP Study will help develop new treatment strategies in the future to ensure all children with burns return to full health after their injury.
We are following two groups of research volunteers:
- Burn Injury Cohort: participants who have experienced a burn injury.
- Uninjured Cohort: participants with no history of burn injury.
Comparison between the two groups will help researchers understand differences in immune responses to vaccination between young people who experienced burns and those who did not.
Thanks to the support of our volunteers, we enrolled 29 participants – 14 who had experienced a burn injury in early childhood, and 15 who did not. Full results of the study are not yet available, but preliminary analysis comparing five participants from the burn and the control group suggested potential differences in immune responses.
To read more about the CHIP Study online here.