Volunteer FAQs

Any adult who volunteers and meets the inclusion and exclusion criteria of the study in question.

Our clinical studies focus on the development of new vaccine strategies against infectious diseases, such as HIV infection. However, other observational studies are also conducted, notably on the COVID-19 virus and vaccine.

Clinical research is carried out under very strict and regulated conditions (e.g. Declaration of Helsinki, Good clinical practice, Federal Act on Research involving Human Beings). Before launching a clinical study, the protocol must be validated by the Local ethics commission - FR and by the regulatory authority, Swissmedic.

Even after giving consent, a person can withdraw from the study at any time, without having to justify it and without affecting his or her relationship with the physician and the health care personnel.

The data collected are subject to medical secrecy and confidentiality regulations.  The strictest confidentiality is observed concerning your study file and your personal data. You are identified by a code number that allows you to be linked to your samples.

Your coded biological samples are analyzed at the VIC laboratory of the CHUV or sent to analysis centers in Switzerland or abroad. Your samples can be stored for a minimum of 10 years depending on the needs of the study in order to allow for further analysis, if necessary.

There is no cost to participate in the studies and participants do not need to take out additional insurance.