An interventional study of Exposure to Donors with naturally acquired influenza virus infection in Influenza (Healthy Volunteers), sponsored by University of Maryland, College Park. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 49 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-01-15.
Sponsored by University of Maryland, College Park · Not applicable, Interventional, and Basic science
This is a research study to investigate how influenza transmits from person-to-person. Participation as a healthy "Recipient" in this study involves:
If the participants get infected during the study, the investigators may:
The participants will be compensated for their time and active participation in the study; however, they may not personally benefit from the study. While the participants may receive supportive care for an infection resulting from the study, this is not meant to replace their regular medical care. If the participants become very ill and need referral for medical care, they or their medical insurance will be billed.
If the participants are someone who recently became infected with influenza either through their daily activities or by participating in this study as a Recipient, they are invited to participate in this research study as a Donor and interact with a group of health participants in a controlled environment. Participation in this study as a Donor involves exposing Recipients for at least one and up to five days including:
Attend exposure events in a controlled environment
If the participants experience severe symptoms related to their influenza infection, we may:
The participants will be compensated for their time and active participation in the study; however, they may not personally benefit from the study. While the participants may receive supportive care for their influenza infection, this is not meant to replace their regular medical care. If the participants become very ill and need referral for medical care, they or their medical insurance will be billed.
Inclusion Criteria Recipients:
Exclusion Criteria Recipients:
Presence of infection with influenza, SARS-CoV-2, or other respiratory pathogens detected via a multiplex nucleic acid amplification test (e.g., TaqMan Array Card assay) at entry to the transmission trial.
a. Volunteers with influenza infection may be eligible to enroll as Donors.
Presence of self-reported or medically documented significant medical or psychiatric condition(s) Significant medical or psychiatric conditions include but are not limited to:
Inclusion Criteria Donors:
Evidence of onset of respiratory infection within the past 48 hours at time of entry into the Donor's initial exposure event, including one or more of the following:
Exclusion Criteria Donors:
Presence of self-reported or medically documented significant medical or psychiatric condition(s) Significant medical or psychiatric conditions include but are not limited to:
Ongoing symptomatic condition for which individual has had or has ongoing medical investigations but has not yet received a diagnosis or treatment plan.
e.g., ongoing and debilitating fatigue without a diagnosis for the symptom.
Recipients are exposed to Donors in a controlled environment while performing prescribed activities, including playing cards and other games, and periodically shaking hands with Donors and rubbing their own nose and eyes.
Other: Exposure to Donors with naturally acquired influenza virus infection
Recipients are exposed to Donors in a controlled environment while performing prescribed activities, including playing cards and other games, and periodically shaking hands with Donors and rubbing their own nose and eyes.
PCR confirmed transmission of influenza virus infection
Transmission of influenza infection defined as having \>1 nasal swab test positive for an influenza virus matching the type and subtype detected in a trial Donor.
Time frame: 1 month
Genomic sequencing-confirmed transmission of influenza virus infection
Sequencing-confirmed transmission will be defined as a Recipient infection with a virus having ≤2 nucleotide difference from the virus infecting a trial Donor and closer genetic relationship to the apparent source Donor than Donors recruited from the community are to each other.
Time frame: 1 month
Culture-confirmed transmission of influenza virus infection
Culture-confirmed transmission will be defined as positive viral culture for a virus that is also a sequence match to a virus cultured from a Donor.
Time frame: 1 month
Plan to share: Yes — De-identified participant data will be made available through appropirate repositories (e.g. OSF.io) using REDCap's de-identification options. REDCap is a HIPAA compliant data system which we will use to store data and distribute electronic informed consent forms and surveys. This system provides de-identification options that we can use to generate de-identified data by removing known identifier fields, invalidated text fields, notes fields, and/or date fields. We can also use it to shift date and/or hash record names so the actual values will be hidden.
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Jan 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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University of Maryland, College Park