1Day Sooner — General Support (May 2020)

Abstract

Open Philanthropy recommended a grant of $500,000 to 1Day Sooner, a non-profit organization advocating for the use of COVID-19 human challenge trials (HCTs) to accelerate vaccine development. HCTs involve exposing volunteers to a controlled dose of a pathogen, potentially reducing the time and participant number required compared to traditional randomized control trials. The organization aims to raise awareness, organize volunteers, and lay the groundwork for implementing HCTs. HCTs have been historically used for smallpox, influenza, malaria, and other diseases, with the feasibility of their application to COVID-19 discussed by researchers in a recent publication. The grant aligns with Open Philanthropy’s focus area of biosecurity and pandemic preparedness. – AI-generated abstract.