Help Us Revolutionise Vaccine Delivery with Precision Technology
Introduction
Research Area:
Vaccine Delivery/ Precision Medicine/ Drug Delivery Systems/ Immunisation/ Medical Devices
What is the research about?
Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to prevent infectious diseases, but many current delivery methods, such as traditional needles, can cause discomfort and fear, reducing patient compliance. At Queen’s University Belfast, we are developing an innovative microinjector device designed for precise, minimally invasive vaccine delivery. This device aims to make the vaccination process more comfortable and efficient by targeting specific layers of the skin with micro-precision.
Our goal is to improve the way vaccines are delivered, enhancing both patient experience and clinical outcomes. By leveraging precision technology, we aim to create a device that is not only more comfortable but also ensures better control over the dose and delivery site, potentially improving vaccine efficacy.
We want to ensure our solution meets the real needs of patients and healthcare providers. That’s where you come in!
Who is this opportunity for?
People who have experienced vaccinations/ Healthcare professionals/ Nurses/ Doctors/ Vaccine advocates/ Members of the public/ Charity groups/ Patient groups
If you are a patient who has received a vaccine, a healthcare professional (such as a nurse or doctor), or a member of the public who is interested in improving vaccination processes, we’d love to hear from you. Your feedback will help guide the development of our microinjector device, ensuring that it addresses the key challenges faced in vaccine delivery.
What will PPI contributors do?
This involvement opportunity will involve meetings with PPI contributors from Northern Ireland and Ireland, either on a one-to-one or focus group format, to provide insights into their experiences on the topic and give their opinion on the solutions we are offering.
Opportunity for:
Involvement Opportunity Details
Time
Time commitment:
Maximum of 2 meetings (up to 1.5 h, online) and 1 in-person discussion/focus group (up to 1.5 h, in person)
Contact between meetings:
Contact by email to arrange meetings, share data, and circulate documents post meetings (max. 1 time per week). The researcher is available for contributor-initiated contact beyond this. Contributors will be conducting interview analysis between meetings.
Length of involvement:
Until 31st July 2025
Start date for involvement:
08/05/2025
Logistics
Where?
If online, explain how:
The methods workshop and meetings will occur online via video-conferencing modality preferred by the contributor (e.g. Zoom, Teams). Contact will be by email. Interview transcripts will also be shared by email in a PDF document.
If in person, explain where:
School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BLNB while an in-person focus group would be preferred, if travel is an issue for any keen participants, we are willing to look into accommodating an online focus group.
Other ways of communicating:
N/A
Funding available for:
If no funding available, explain why:
Not applicable
Other Information
Stage of the research study/ programme:
Early planning
Is this opportunity for PPI in a PhD:
No
Closing date to contact researchers:
31/07/2025
Research Team
Contact person:
Dr Katie Glover
University/organisation:
Queen's University Belfast
Contact email:
k.glover@qub.ac.uk
Researcher background:
Pharmaceutical scientist - Post-doctoral Research Assistant at the School of Pharmacy, QUB
Research funder:
Queen's University Belfast
Photo:
Interested in this PPI Opportunity?
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