A local mother shares some positive news after losing her oldest son to a rare brain disorder.

ANN ARBOR – Michigan Medicine and Janssen, a division of Johnson & Johnson, are now recruiting for a double-blind phase III COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial. Known as the ENSEMBLE study, the trial will test an investigational vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The University of Michigan is one of several test sites around the globe supporting the trial, which aims to enroll up to 60,000 volunteers. “Michigan Medicine is committed to supporting the continued study of the investigational Janssen vaccine and other vaccine candidates. The Janssen study is the second COVID-19 trial to be recruiting at U-M, along with the AstraZeneca trial.

The university released the below video and Q&A addressing the topic:Are the COVID-19 vaccines being rushed through clinical trials? Lok: We know that everyone is eager to have the COVID vaccines and would have liked to have those vaccines yesterday. It depends on whether the vaccine results are exactly as expected or whether they need additional analysis and additional testing. Is it safe to participate in a vaccine clinical trial? I heard there are low numbers of people of color signing up for vaccine trials.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. Metro Detroit is now the site of four COVID-19 vaccine trials. The latest is being conducted at the University of Michigan and involves a vaccine developed by Oxford University and pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca. Sept. 2, 2020: Michigan coronavirus (COVID-19) cases up to 103,710; Death toll now at 6,509The university said 30,000 volunteers will be needed to test the vaccine. We definitely want to have people participate who reflect the people in the community who are getting COVID and are getting sick with COVID, Kaul said. For more information, or to volunteer for the vaccine trial, click here.

U-Ms academic medical center, Michigan Medicine, is working with AstraZeneca to carry out the third trial phase of a potential vaccine for COVID-19. The University of Michigan is one of multiple U.S. sites testing the investigational vaccine against COVID-19. Officials say the phase three clinical trial is expected to include about 30,000 participants in total over the course of two years. We are proud to advance the University of Michigans outstanding legacy of excellence in vaccine trials with this important clinical trial partnership, said Mark Schlissel, M.D., Ph.D., president of the University of Michigan. For more information, or to volunteer for the vaccine trial, click here.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. Researchers at the University of Michigans Michigan Medicine and three other medical centers were awarded a total of $7 million from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHBLI) to study convalescent plasma in reducing symptoms of COVID-19 in patients with mild cases, Michigan Medicine announced Thursday. The other medical centers awarded funding are the University of Pittsburgh, Medical University of South Carolina and Stanford Medicine. As part of NHBLIs initiative, the Clinical Trial of COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma of Outpatients (C3PO), the institute plans to study whether preventing a mild case from becoming severe can come from passive immunization. Convalescent plasma contains antibodies that can bind to the virus that causes COVID-19, neutralizing it. A press release from Michigan Medicine said convalescent plasma can be used as a treatment for hospital patients with severe to life-threatening COVID-19, which is the passive immunization.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. Researchers at the University of Michigans Michigan Medicine and three other medical centers were awarded a total of $7 million from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHBLI) to study convalescent plasma in reducing symptoms of COVID-19 in patients with mild cases, Michigan Medicine announced Thursday. ORIGINAL STORY: Michigan Medicine awarded funding for COVID-19 plasma therapy trialMost of the other studies are focused on people who are so sick that they need to be in the ICU, said Dr. Frederick Korley. He said convalescent plasma -- donated by survivors -- contains antibodies that can bind to COVID-19 and neutralize it. Our hope is that if we can get to the patient early enough then -- with convalescent plasma -- we can neutralize the virus before the virus does a lot of damage to the body, Korley said. The study will enroll ER patients that have mild COVID-19 symptoms, but a high-risk for developing severe complications.