VRC Vaccine Research Studies

How to Volunteer

The Vaccine Research Center (VRC) conducts clinical trials to evaluate promising HIV, Biodefense, and Re-Emerging Infectious Disease vaccine candidates.

If you are interested in volunteering to participate in a clinical study, please call us at 1-866-833-LIFE (5433) or email us at vaccines@nih.gov. We will send you information about our clinical studies and follow up with you to answer any questions.

You can also fill out a confidential Volunteer Questionnaire to see if you are eligible for VRC clinical studies.

Once you agree to participate, we will follow the steps below. 

Informed Consent

• You will have an initial interview.
• We will tell you about the study in detail.
• We will answer any questions you have to make sure that you understand everything involved with participating in our trial.
• You will read and sign a consent form for the study. 

Eligibility Screening 

• We will ask you to complete a health questionnaire.
• You will receive a clinical exam that includes blood tests and a physical exam.

Vaccination

• Over the period of a few weeks or months (depending on the trial), you will receive a vaccination or a series of vaccinations.
• You will be asked to keep a record of any physical reaction you have to the vaccine.
• We will monitor the effects of the vaccine through periodic blood tests.
• You will also receive physical examinations while you are participating in the trial.

For more information on recruitment for VRC clinical trials, please read the VRC Philosophy for Volunteer Recruitment.

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