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Human Challenge Research

Advancing vaccine, antiviral and therapeutic programs through specialised human challenge research.

Human challenge studies are increasingly used to accelerate infectious disease development, providing rapid efficacy data and valuable insights into immune protection. Access to specialist facilities and expert challenge study teams can help sponsors make faster, more informed development decisions.

 

ICON partners with Vaccinopolis (University of Antwerp) to help sponsors accelerate vaccine, therapeutic and infectious disease development through the successful delivery of Controlled Human Infection Model (CHIM) studies and other human challenge trials.

Through this partnership sponsors can leverage one of Europe's leading purpose built, high-containment human challenge research facilities alongside ICON's global clinical development, regulatory, biometrics, safety and operational expertise. Together, we provide a seamless solution that combines specialised BSL-2 and BSL-3 challenge trial infrastructure, deep scientific expertise and end-to-end study delivery—helping accelerate development timelines while maintaining the highest standards of quality, safety and scientific rigor.

Purpose-built human challenge trial infrastructure

Vaccinopolis is a 6,000m² clinical research facility operated by the Centre for Evaluation of Vaccination (CEV) at the University of Antwerp. The facility integrates ambulatory vaccine trial capabilities, quarantine units and laboratory infrastructure under one roof. 

Key capabilities include:

  • Dedicated human challenge trial unit with capacity for up to 30 negative pressure inpatient rooms, designed to prevent the spread of infectious pathogens.
  • Clinical conduct under Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) and Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) containment conditions. 
  • Infrastructure designed to prevent environmental exposure through controlled airflow, HEPA filtration and decontamination systems. 
  • Separate clinical trial units supporting both outpatient vaccine studies and contained human challenge trials. 
  • Specialised support for vaccines, antivirals, monoclonal antibodies, shedding studies and GMO-containing investigational products. 

A unique partnership for end-to-end delivery

ICON and Vaccinopolis bring together specialised human challenge infrastructure and global clinical development expertise in a single integrated solution.

Together, we help sponsors move seamlessly from study design through execution, analysis and decision-making delivering:

  • Human challenge trial design and execution expertise
  • Deep vaccine development experience
  • Established infectious disease epidemiology knowledge
  • Academic leadership and translational research capabilities
  • Access to specialised laboratory, immunology expertise and vaccine trial sites network
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