RAB-Vac
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A phase I clinical trial to assess the reactogenicity, tolerability and immunogenicity of a self-amplifying ribonucleic acid (saRNA) vaccine encoding the surface glycoprotein of rabies virus (RAB-Vac)
IRAS ID
1013204
Contact name
Marta Boffito
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Research Governance and Integrity Team (Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust)
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN91975924
Research summary
RAB-Vac is a trial testing a new RNA vaccine against the Rabies virus, which causes rabies. The trial aims to evaluate the vaccine's safety, as it will be the first time it has been used in humans. However, this trial does not assess whether the vaccine provides protection. It solely focuses on the safety of the vaccine and how the immune system responds to it.
Since this is the first time this vaccine has been used in humans, the safety will be assessed in healthy young adults. 48 participants aged 18-50 years will be randomly assigned to one of six different groups, receiving one of three doses of the self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) vaccine by injection into the muscle and administered at either 0, 4, and 24 weeks or 0, 12, and 24 weeks. Participants will be carefully monitored for any reactions to the vaccine.
Participants will be asked to record symptoms in an online diary. To see how well the immune system is responding, participants will need to give blood samples in order to assess durability of the immune response. The study will take place at one study centre.REC name
London - Riverside Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
26/LO/0198
Date of REC Opinion
24 Apr 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion