Accelerator Research Clinic
Our purpose-built respiratory research clinic in the Liverpool Life Science Accelerator Building. We bring clinical and laboratory teams closer together so we can process samples quickly and give participants more flexibility and choice.
The Accelerator Research Clinic is home to the world’s only Experimental Human Pneumococcal Challenge model. We run early-phase vaccine and drug trials, with integrated laboratory facilities that support rapid sample processing.
Our 18-bed unit has completed more than 26 studies with over 2,000 participants. ARC also served as the Northern Hub for the Phase III Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine trial. We work with partners including Pfizer on long-term programmes to develop vaccines for pneumococcal disease, a major cause of pneumonia, meningitis and sepsis.
Work with us
Pneumo 2 study
Two vaccines are currently used in the UK to protect against pneumococcus. Some strains included in these vaccines continue to circulate and cause disease, known as vaccine escape. In Pneumo 2, we investigate vaccine escape using strain 3 one month after vaccination, and whether vaccines provide longer-term protection against pneumococcal colonisation six months after vaccination.
Find out more and volunteer for the trial
Designed for efficient, participant-friendly research
We support efficient cross-team working between clinical and laboratory teams.
We facilitate rapid sample processing.
We offer flexibility and choice for research participants.
We accommodate multiple participant visits at one time.
“Everything we do at ARC is built around high clinical standards. We run our trials to Good Clinical Practice, with LSTM as the sponsor and support from the local NHS Research Ethics Committee. We also have the emergency equipment we need on site, and our staff are trained in Intermediate and Advanced Life Support.”
Dr Andrea Collins, Director of the Accelerator Research Clinic
Frequently asked questions
If you’re interested in taking part, contact the team to find out more. We’ll invite you to a short chat and presentation where you can meet the team, watch a video about the study, and ask any questions. You can then take time to decide whether you’d like to take part.
Study visits take place at our purpose-built Accelerator Research Clinic at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. We’re based in the Accelerator Building, next door to the Royal Liverpool Hospital and a short walk from the University of Liverpool campus.
We pay you for your time and inconvenience. Most participants receive between £100 and £450, depending on the number of appointments you attend.
Our clinic is open Monday to Friday. We’ll arrange appointments at times that work for you.
Most appointments take around 20 minutes. Some may take longer, but they are usually no more than one hour.
We do not expect anyone to become unwell, but your safety is our priority. You can contact the research team 24 hours a day by phone if you have any concerns.
Yes. We’ll provide a phone number you can call 24 hours a day if you have any concerns. You can also contact us by email or phone during working hours.
At the end of the study, we publish results in scientific papers. You’ll be able to access these through our website, and we also share updates with participants through our newsletters.