Even though people know smoking is the top killer in the U.S., it is still one of the hardest addictions to overcome. But what if a vaccine could help make quitting easier?
Now you may qualify for groundbreaking research going on in this area.
Press & News
July 21, 2010
March 2, 2010
Good news for smokers. A trial on a vaccine to help people quit lighting up is about to start in New Orleans, and participants are needed.
Jean Lilly has been a smoker for 25 years and she's starting to feel the effects. "Shortness of breath from smoking making my lungs hurt." She's tried everything to quit. "I've tried just cutting back to a certain amount a day or just cutting cold turkey. It's just -- you think about it more," she says.
November 4, 2009
The vaccine has already been approved for use in Europe and it's manufacturer is seeking FDA approval in this country.
Despite the roughly 5 H1N1 vaccines currently on the market, there's still a shortage of vaccines, so the government is hoping that another FDA approved vaccine will help increase availability -- and it's also a fail-safe, providing an alternative, in case any of the other vaccines turn out to have negative side affects.
Dr. Lawrence Chu is examining Monique Limon. She is taking part in the year long study by Benchmark research to test a new Swine Flu vaccine. Limon says it's worth it because she assured of getting a Swine Flu vaccine and doesn't have to worry about a shortage.
October 9, 2009
Sacramento is one of six sites in the U.S. that is conducting H1N1 vaccine trials. Terry Deane, a nurse practitioner with Benchmark Research, said the Texas-based firm began swine flu vaccine studies earlier this year. According to Deane, a large number of Sacramento area residents took part in the research.
September 30, 2009
The H1N1 vaccine will be widely available next month, but clinical trials for the vaccine are continuing and actually happening right here in Austin. But when the vaccine comes out next month, it will have only gone through about four months of clinical trials. Typically those trials last a minimum of 6 months with researchers then analyzing the data for up to a year.
July 16, 2009
"There have been more than 4,400 swine flu cases in Texas, including 21 deaths. It continues to make people sick here and elsewhere. While a vaccine is in production, it could still be months before anyone is able to use it. Health experts say now's the time to prepare, with fall and flu season quickly approaching. ..."
July 8, 2009
"It is a mystery the World Health Organization is trying to solve. How did a handful of H1N1, or swine flu, cases balloon into a global pandemic in less than two months?
The organization says there are 77,000 confirmed cases and 332 deaths worldwide, but U.S. health officials say as many as one million Americans have been infected with H1N1.
With concerns among health officials that the virus will make a strong comeback this fall, North Texas could be on the front line for a vaccine."
February 16, 2009
"San Angelo's clinical research facility is one of three centers of its kind in the state and one of only six in the nation, said Mark Lacy, Benchmark co-founder, president and CEO.
"Lacy, who opened the San Angelo center in 1999, said the vaccine studies are an area in which he's most proud. ..."
Read the full article on GoSanAngelo.com
December 18, 2008
"KSAN’s Nicole Sanchez has the story on how patients can take part in a clinical research to help with health studies…"
November 11, 2008
"Doctors and pharmaceutical companies insist that clinical research trials of proposed new drugs are necessary to develop new treatments for diseases. Many of these drug trials are conducted in Austin due to the diverse population and high numbers of students. However, FOX 7's Keri Bellacosa reports that researchers do not think they are turning humans into guinea pigs."