Imagine a World Without Diseases
There’s no doubt the world is desperately in need of more tools to prevent diseases of global significance such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and COVID-19. The Seattle Vaccine Trials Unit (VTU) pursues innovative research strategies to protect the health of our communities.
Volunteers Help Us Make Discoveries
We need study participants to help move science toward more discoveries. Sign up now to see if you can help with one of our paid research studies.
Research Studies - Volunteers Needed
HIV Vaccines & bNAb Studies
We welcome participants of all HIV statuses to join our HIV-prevention studies.
Research study products DO NOT contain live HIV or human cells with HIV. Vaccines used in these studies cannot cause HIV infection.
Why Are bNAbs Important?
Broadly neutralizing antibodies, or bNAbs, are special antibodies that can block many of the global strains of HIV, making them a powerful tool in HIV prevention research. Current studies are looking at combinations of antibodies to fight off HIV.
Studying bNAbs helps scientists learn how to more effectively prevent HIV infection, and informs the development of future vaccines and treatments.
PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) Studies
PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) is medication that helps protect people from acquiring HIV. Right now, there are several FDA-approved medications (pills and shots) for PrEP, but current approved medications may not be ideal options for everyone who wants HIV prevention.
PrEP is not one-size-fits-all, so we are researching new PrEP options to prevent HIV -- options that will fit the many unique lives and needs of people who want protection from HIV!
Along with our friends at the Sexual Health Clinic, you can help us develop more flexible and accessible prevention options for our communities and people around the world.
What Happens at a Screening?
All studies will have some or all of the elements below.
Potential volunteers will speak with a VTU staff member to get a general overview of our research. The overview will include information about us, basic information about HIV prevention and a few deails on the basics of research. This inital visit is called a “general screen,” this is usually a two-hour paid session. After reading, discussing and signing a consent form, you may be asked to provide blood for some general lab screening tests. These general lab tests will help us determine if you are eligible for one of our studies.
If someone would like to continue in the screening process, to see if they can join a study, a second visit would be scheduled to review study details such as the product, duration and number of visits. Potential volunteers will receive a consent form on the study they may join and will review the consent with a clinician. Sometimes we may have a few HIV prevention studies for you to consider.
These screening visits are one-on-one appointments, where someone can ask questions and determine if the study is a good fit for them. All visits are done in person at our clinic on First Hill in Seattle. If it's not a good time to join a study at the time of the screening, you can always consider one again later.
Observational Studies of People Living with HIV
We have several observational HIV studies designed to help us learn more about the immune system in people who have HIV but can naturally control the virus without taking any medications. There are no medications or vaccines given in our observational studies. Contact Julie at info@seattlevaccines.org if you are interested.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Research
Our observational COVID-19 study will help us gain an understanding of how the immune system works in response to SARS-CoV-2 and will enable us to find better ways to prevent and treat the virus.
At this time, we are not enrolling new participants but are following a dedicated group of volunteers who have contributed to our efforts to learn more about the immune response to the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Our Invaluable Community Partnerships
Our work would not be possible without a dedicated community of collaborating organizations volunteers and donors.
A History of Collaboration — Some of our longstanding partners include AMP, African American Reach and Teach Ministries, Gender Justice League, LGBTQ+ Center, POCAAN and Lifelong. Many of our HIV vaccine studies are in partnership with global networks such as the HIV Vaccine Trials Network and the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, and many local public health officials and service organizations helped to establish a foundation for our HIV and COVID-19 research projects.
Inspired by Community — The VTU is committed to fostering and maintaining meaningful, collaborative, and mutually beneficial relationships with our community partners and study volunteers. We are especially grateful to the many people who have helped move our research forward, and for the insights and partnership of our Community Advisory Board members. We respect cultural values and diversity, and we maintain broad-minded perspectives among our staff and advisors.
Donor-powered — During the COVID-19 pandemic, VTU was able to rapidly deploy leading-edge research efforts to control the virus, thanks in part to the generous philanthropic support from individual donors and companies. Our COVID-Cohort study appreciates our local first responders and community members who joined our study and still remain dedicated to our research to learn more about how COVID impacts the immune system.
Meet the Team
As a parent, part of the reason I do this research is to create a brighter future for my son's generation. It makes my work that much more important to me.
— Julie McElrath, Principal Investigator, Seattle VTU
VTU Media Coverage
More VTU Media Coverage>Researchers Take Next Steps Toward an HIV Vaccine
Novel HIV vaccine approaches are making progress, but it will likely be years before large trials show whether they can prevent HIV.
POZ | May 28, 2025
AIDS crisis from 1980s to today: How Seattle responded with hope, healing
This story is part of a project recognizing LGBTQ+ people who have shaped Washington ahead of the 50th anniversary of Seattle Pride.
Seattle Times | June 27, 2024
IAVI and Moderna partner to tackle broad global health priorities using mRNA for vaccines and antibodies
IAVI | News Release | April 7, 2022
Trial of innovative HIV vaccine using mRNA technology enrolls first participant
IAVI | News Release | March 17, 2022
Translating the Language of Immunity
An advocate for equitable representation in science, doctoral student Nick Maurice was awarded the 2021 Graduate School Medal
UW Graduate School | May 26, 2021
People who have had COVID should get single vaccine dose, studies suggest
New studies show that one shot of a vaccine can greatly amplify antibody levels in those who have recovered from the coronavirus.
New York Times | Feb. 19, 2021