In April 2020, epidemiologist-in-training Sophie Rose volunteered to be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. As a young, healthy adult, she's offering to take part in a human challenge trial, a study where participants are intentionally exposed to SARS-CoV-2 to test vaccines and gather critical data. Explaining how challenge trials could speed up the development of effective vaccines, Rose shares why volunteering was the right decision for her.

Sophie Rose: How COVID-19 human challenge trials work -- and why I volunteered

How COVID-19 human challenge trials work -- and why I volunteered

Embracing challenge trials for COVID-19 could significantly expedite vaccine validation, turning months of anticipation into weeks.

Human challenge trials, by enlisting healthy young volunteers, offer a unique lens on early infection stages, invaluable for policy design.

Global solidarity in vaccine distribution is crucial; challenge trials could hasten the end of the pandemic, saving lives and economies.