Belgium inaugurated a “vaccine city” for clinical trials

Accelerate research and vaccine development as well as increasing preparedness to face the next pandemic is the goal of the “vaccine city” (Vaccinopolis) has just been established on the campus of the University Hospital of Antwerp in Belgium.

The city is essentially a new building, with an area of ​​​​6,000 m² for pharmaceutical corporations and researchers from around the world conducting clinical trials of vaccines.

The building consists of 30 rooms to isolate clinical study volunteers, through which researchers can monitor the evolution of each volunteer’s immune response on a daily basis and closely study the pathogen. .

Vaccinopolis was born after 14 months of construction and this is a feat in the context of the COVID-19 crisis posing an urgent need for a vaccine.

The total construction cost is 26 million Euro, of which 50% is from the federal government budget, the rest comes from private donors, the University of Antwerp…

At Vaccinopolis, scientists can conduct clinical studies on viruses that are classified as dangerous level 3 (like COVID-19 and tuberculosis) but not as dangerous as deadly type 4 like Ebola.

According to Mr. Pierre Van Damme, in charge of the project, one of the conditions is to have ideal treatment methods and facilities.

Belgium is building an advanced vaccine complex at the University of Antwerp. (Photo: Jansen the Building Company)

These studies must take place in a completely enclosed environment to prevent the virus from spreading in the wild. 30 spacious, airy rooms with the only furniture being a bed, an armchair and a TV, each with its own ventilation system.

Before being discharged to the outside, the air is filtered three times. Water from showers and toilets is captured in large tanks and heated to high temperatures to eliminate viruses.

All personal belongings of experimental participants were disinfected or treated by fumigation.

When the clinical trial is completed, all rooms are also disinfected by fumigation. Curtains, mattresses, seats are designed with special materials that allow them to withstand these sterilization processes…

Clinical trials of vaccines and studies of viruses will be subject to rules and overseen by an ethics committee.

The Belgian Federal Government has spent 20 million euros to support the authorities to strengthen their capacity to respond to infectious diseases, of which 13 million euros are allocated to the Vaccinopolis project and 7 million euros to support the University. The Liberal School of Brussels (ULB) has set up a new immunology laboratory to analyze samples taken from volunteers in Antwerp.

Therefore, the two universities will cooperate on this project. The first vaccine candidate tested in Vaccinopolis for whooping cough.

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