BRACE trial
Research area: Infection and Immunity > Infectious Diseases | Status: Active
This Australian-led study is the world’s largest trial on the off-target effects of Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine.
The BRACE trial is investigating whether BCG vaccine reduces the incidence of symptomatic and severe COVID-19, as well as other respiratory illnesses and allergic diseases.
The BRACE trial is investigating whether BCG vaccine reduces the incidence of symptomatic and severe COVID-19, as well as other respiratory illnesses and allergic diseases.
The BRACE trial is investigating whether BCG vaccine reduces the incidence of symptomatic and severe COVID-19, as well as other respiratory illnesses and allergic diseases.
Overview
To help prevent severe tuberculosis (TB) in children, BCG vaccine has off-target (non-specific or immunomodulatory) effects. That’s why this multi-centre, randomised controlled clinical trial is working to determine:
Whether the BCG vaccine reduces the incidence of symptomatic and severe COVID-19.
If BCG vaccine reduces the impact of other respiratory illnesses and allergic diseases.
The immunological mechanisms that underlie BCG’s off-target effects, COVID-19 severity and risks.
The safety profile of BCG vaccination and revaccination in adults.
If BCG alters the acquisition of latent TB in healthcare workers.
Biomarkers predictive of COVID-19 risk, severity and vaccine efficacy.
Sub-study
The BRACE COVID-19-specific vaccine Sub-study (BCOS)
The BRACE trial has introduced a sub-study at selected sites in Australia and Brazil to investigate whether it’s possible to predict who remains susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 variants despite previous COVID-19 disease or COVID-19-specific vaccination.
The sub-study will look at whether BCG vaccine, by boosting the immune system, improves the response to Pfizer, AstraZeneca and CoronaVac vaccines.
Trial data
So far, the trial has generated:
Trial Symptom Tracker app entries
355,000
Telephonista entries
190,000
BRACE blood samples
25,000
BCOS blood samples
1,900
Clinic visits
26,000
Surveys sent
23,000
A cutting-edge study of BCG vaccines off-target effects
>6800
healthcare workers
36
study sites
5
countries
>360
researchers & staff
>335K
app check-ins
100
year-old vaccine
Information for participants
Your involvement is more important than ever as we work to determine whether BCG’s ability to enhance immunity reduces the severity of SARS-CoV-2 as well as other infectious and allergic diseases.
Every survey, blood sample, app or phone check-in and COVID-19 test matters in this global effort to understand the potential benefits of BCG vaccine and help contain this pandemic.
Thank you BRACE trial participants! It's been two years since the BRACE trial began - investigating the off-target effects of BCG vaccine. Investigators from Australia, the Netherlands, Spain, the UK and Brazil thank almost 7000 healthcare workers for taking part. Stay tuned for the six-month primary outcomes.
What participants need to know
The BRACE COVID-19-specific vaccine Sub-study (BCOS)
With philanthropic support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, this is a sub-study to the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute’s trial of Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine to reduce the impact of COVID-19
What to expect following BCG vaccination
Half of the healthcare workers received the BCG vaccine to test whether it can protect those exposed to SARS-CoV-2 from developing severe symptoms by boosting their frontline immunity.
What should you know about BCG revaccination?
This information is specifically directed to, and only to be used by, medical professionals seeking additional information on the BRACE trial.
BCG vaccine and pregnancy, lactation
This information is specifically directed to, and only to be used by, medical professionals seeking additional information on the BRACE trial.
Read about BCG vaccine, pregnancy, lactation
Trial Symptom Tracker app
How BRACE uses this custom-built smartphone app.
BRACE trial Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to some common questions from BRACE trial participants and supporters.
Previous newsletters
Research team
Almost 400 researchers and staff across five countries are involved in the BRACE BCG vaccine trial study team.
Professor Nigel Curtis, BRACE trial Chief Principal Investigator
Paediatric infectious diseases physician and clinician scientist. Nigel is the leader of the Infectious Diseases Research Group at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Professor of Paediatric Infectious Diseases at The University of Melbourne and Head of Infectious Diseases at The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne.
The BRACE trial is a randomised controlled clinical trial working to determine if BCG vaccination reduces the impact of COVID-19 and other diseases in healthcare workers.
Since launching in March 2020, the trial has recruited over 6,800 participants in five countries.
Want to join the BRACE trial study team?
PhD Opportunities
If you’re interested in being part of the world’s largest study on the off-target effects of BCG vaccine, you’re in the right place. Based at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, the BRACE trial has some exciting clinical and immunological PhD projects.
International Principal Investigators from 36 sites
Victoria
Nigel Curtis
Tony Korman
Niki Tan
Western Australia
Peter Richmond
Laurens Manning
Michaela Lucas
South Australia
David Lynn
Simone Barry
Helen Marshall
New South Wales
Nicholas Wood
Mark Douglas
Brendan McMullan
Jeffrey Post
Anthony Byrne
Craig Munns
The Netherlands
Marc Bonten
Cristina Prat Aymerich
Jan Kluytmans
Jet Gisolf
Wim Boersma
Jaap ten Oever
Spain
Jesús Rodríguez Baño
Antoni Rosell
Tomás Perez Porcuna
Josune Goikoetxea
Maria Carmen Fariñ Álvarez
United Kingdom
John Campbell
Adilia Warris
Daniel Webber-Rookes
Alex Harding
James Moore
Michael Gibbons
Tamsin Venton
Brazil
Julio Croda
Margareth Dalcolmo
Marcus Lacerda
Bruno Jardim
A global effort to study BCG off-target effects
- The Royal Children's Hospital (Melbourne)
- The University of Melbourne
- Telethon Kids Institute
- South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute
- National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance
- University Medical Center Utrecht (UMC Utrecht)
- The University of Exeter
- Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS)
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz)
- Tropical Medicine Foundation Doctor Heitor Vieira Dourado (FMT-HVD)
The BRACE trial - one year on
Prof Curtis, international Principal Investigators, Ann Ginsberg of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the global study team celebrate one year since the trial began.
Feature videos
BRACE marks Clinical Trials Day 2021
Hear from Ann Ginsberg, of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, about how the BRACE trial has risen to the challenge of running the largest BCG vaccine study for healthcare workers during the global pandemic.
BRACE in Brazil
Hear from our Brazilian investigators Professor Julio Croda and Professor Margareth Dalcolmo about how the multinational BCG vaccine study is going, and what will happen next.
Go behind the scenes
Take a peek inside the world’s largest trial on the off-target effects of BCG vaccine. See inside our clinics and laboratories across five countries as the study team prepares for the six-month primary outcomes.
Women and Girls in Science
Dr Nicole Messina, BRACE Biosample and Laboratory Lead, met budding young Melbourne scientist Maddie, 6-years-old, for International Day of Women and Girls in Science on 11th February 2022.
Stay up-to-date with the latest news, BCG vaccine research, videos and results from across the trial.
Who is enrolled in the BRACE trial across our 36 sites?
- Australia 50%
- Europe 15%
- Brazil 35%
Trial updates
BRACE biosample and laboratory lead, Dr Nicole Messina, receives NHMRC Ideas Grant.
November 2021
Our BCG vaccine trial joins global race to better understand COVID-19 variants.
June 2021
Could BCG vaccine protect against COVID-19? UK recruitment begins.
October 2020
$10M grant enables MCRI’s BCG vaccine trial to expand internationally
May 2020
Murdoch Children's to trial preventative vaccine for COVID-19 healthcare workers
March 2020
Brace trial timeline
This graphic shows the timeline of the BRACE trial.
Read the latest global media coverage
As flu cases surge, vaccination may offer some bonus protection from COVID as well
The Conversation, May 2022
The Global race to Understand COVID-19 variants
The University of Melbourne
COVID-19 cross-protection? When vaccines provide 'bonus' protection against other diseases
ABC News Australia, January 2021
Institute starts study in Manaus to assess whether BCG vaccine can reduce impacts of Covid-19 (Portuguese)
Globo News, January 2021
BCG vaccine trial extends across Devon, in partnership with RD&E
Exeter Daily, January 2021
How Some Vaccines Protect Against More than Their Targets
The Scientist, November 2020
BRACE trial videos
See more BRACE videos on YouTube.
Professor Nigel Curtis: BCG Vaccine, COVID-19 and the BRACE trial
The Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine is designed to protect against tuberculosis (TB). However, it also boosts immunity to protect against other infections.
BRACE trial in the media
This Australian-led study is the world’s largest trial on the off-target effects of Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine. More than 6800 healthcare workers are enrolled in Australia, Brazil, Spain, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
Injection of Hope: The hunt for a COVID-19 vaccine
Four Corners, ABC Australia
Could a century-old tuberculosis vaccine help fight COVID-19?
Bloomberg Quicktake - Twitter
Learn about BCG vaccine research
Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination and COVID-19
World Health Organisation (WHO), 2020
The influence of BCG on vaccine responses - a systematic review
National Library of Medicine, 2018
Off-target effects of bacillus Calmette–Guérin vaccination on immune responses to SARS-CoV-2: implications for protection against severe COVID-19
Wiley Online Library, 2022
Bacille Calmette Guérin (BCG) and new TB vaccines: Specific, cross-mycobacterial and off-target effects
Science Direct, 2020
BCG vaccination to reduce the impact of COVID-19 in healthcare workers: Protocol for a randomised controlled trial (BRACE trial)
BMJ Open
For more any media enquiries please contact us below:
Media enquiries
Bridie Byrne, Media Manager
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Collaborators
- The Royal Children's Hospital (Melbourne)
- The University of Melbourne
- Telethon Kids Institute
- South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute
- National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance
- University Medical Center Utrecht (UMC Utrecht)
- The University of Exeter
- Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS)
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz)
- Tropical Medicine Foundation Doctor Heitor Vieira Dourado (FMT-HVD)
With the support of visionary philanthropists, the BRACE trial has become the largest study of its kind worldwide.
Our donors
A special thank you to our generous donors.
- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
- Sarah and Lachlan Murdoch
- Minderoo Foundation
- The Royal Children's Hospital Foundation
- South Australian government
- NAB Foundation
- The Calvert Jones Foundation
- UHG Foundation Pty Ltd
- Modara Pines Charitable Foundation
- Health Services Union NSW
- Peter Sowerby Foundation
- South Australia Ministry of Health
- Epworth Health Care
- Swiss National Science Foundation
- Individual donors
The face of BRACE
BRACE is a randomised controlled trial that includes over 6,800 healthcare workers recruited in 36 sites across five countries to assess whether the off-target effects of Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination reduce the incidence of symptomatic and severe COVID-19. The study is also investigating whether BCG vaccine reduces the impact of other illnesses, such as respiratory illnesses and allergic diseases.
In April 2021, the trial introduced the BRACE COVID-19-Specific vaccine sub-study (BCOS) to explore whether it’s possible to predict who remains susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 variants despite previous COVID-19 infection or COVID-19-specific vaccination. The sub-study will look at whether BCG vaccine improves the immune response to Pfizer, AstraZeneca and CoronaVac vaccines.
So far, the international study team of over 350 researchers and staff have collected more than a quarter of a million samples, attracted a global media audience of over five billion people and secured $15 million-plus in philanthropic funding. And all this with a 100-year-old vaccine.
Corporate Partnerships
Cale Wilkinson
Trusts & Foundations Manager
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Engagement & Philanthropy team
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Contact us
The BRACE trial
Murdoch Children's Research Institute
The Royal Children's Hospital
50 Flemington Road
Parkville VIC 3052
Australia
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Professor Nigel Curtis in Murdoch Children's Research Institute Annual Showcase 2020.
Can a 100-year-old vaccine protect healthcare workers against COVID-19?
Professor Nigel Curtis is a paediatric infectious diseases physician and clinician scientist and leader of the Infectious Diseases Research Group at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute.
See more BRACE videos on YouTube.
Can a 100-year-old vaccine protect healthcare workers against COVID-19?
Professor Nigel Curtis is a paediatric infectious diseases physician and clinician scientist and leader of the Infectious Diseases Research Group at the Murdoch Children's...
Can a 100-year-old vaccine protect healthcare workers against COVID-19?
Professor Nigel Curtis is a paediatric infectious diseases physician and clinician scientist and leader of the Infectious Diseases Research Group at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute.
See more BRACE videos on YouTube.
BRACE trial newsroom
Grants secured to advance research into childhood conditions
Ten Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI) scientists have received federal funding to...
BCG vaccine trial joins global race to better understand COVID-19 variants
An Australian-led study will investigate whether it's possible to predict who...
Could BCG vaccine protect against COVID-19? UK recruitment begins
A largescale global trial designed to test the theory that the widely-used BCG vaccine could...
