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Details of the Common Cold Unit, sited at Harvard Hospital, Harnham Down, on the west side of Salisbury
There have been claims from some former Porton Down volunteers that they were recruited on to the Service Volunteer programme under the pretext of taking part in common cold research. Despite a detailed search of Ministry of Defence archives, to date no evidence has been found to support this claim.
Common cold research has never been carried out at Porton Down. Such work was carried out at the Common Cold Unit, located at Harvard Hospital, Harnham Down, on the west side of Salisbury. Confusion may have arisen due to proximity of these two locations.
The following explains the history and work of the Common Cold Unit, referred to throughout as the CCU.
Origins of the CCU
In July 1940, after Dunkirk, Harvard University planned to send to Britain a group of field and laboratory workers to assist in the control of epidemics that were expected to arise here as a result of war conditions.
A site at Harnham Down, on the west side of Salisbury, was requisitioned by the Ministry of Works who arranged for the laying of foundations for huts for a 600 bedded hospital.
The hospital buildings and equipment were supplied and shipped from America, financed from American funds and staffed and administered by American personnel. The cost of transport of staff, buildings and equipment, together with the cost of maintaining patients and the day to day running of the unit, was borne by the British government. Nursing and medical staff were paid by the USA. Harvard Hospital opened in September 1941.
In August 1945 the buildings and contents were formally transferred as a gift from America to the Ministry of Health for the purpose of research into communicable diseases, and in 1946 were taken over by the Medical Research Council (MRC) for research into the common cold. The first intake of volunteers to take part in common cold research was in July 1946.
Volunteer recruiting
Initially the CCU recruited students but this did not provide enough volunteers and it was decided to recruit from the general public. Twenty four volunteers were required every fortnight during trial periods.
The then Air Ministry sought to encourage volunteers from among RAF personnel and their families, but Servicemen had to attend in their own leave time. The last batch of volunteers left the CCU in July 1989.
Advertising
Adverts for volunteers were placed in selected magazines and the CCU was also promoted through articles in newspapers or magazines. Those wanting further information were sent details of the CCU and an application form.
It would appear that the CCU was promoted very much as a holiday opportunity with volunteers spending the best part of a fortnight in a pleasant part of the country at no cost, while being paid for it.
Arrangements for volunteers
Volunteers usually stayed for 10 days. They were housed in twos or threes, as it was felt ten days' isolation would be too much for individuals, and shared a lounge, bathroom and kitchen, but had separate bedrooms.
Any volunteers found to be in the early stages of a cold were excluded from the trial. Participants were strictly isolated from CCU staff and anyone else, apart from those sharing their accommodation.
Staff performing the routine daily checks wore gowns and masks. Volunteers were allowed to go out for walks on Salisbury Plain but Salisbury city and residential areas were out of bounds.
Having left the CCU, volunteers were informed that they could reapply in six months time and were encouraged to introduce their friends to the possibility of volunteering. Many volunteers did attend more than once, and there is a note of one couple who were on their twenty-first visit.
CCU Policy
In 1946 the CCU was involved in discovering basic facts about the virus which causes colds, not testing cold cures or vaccines. But, as viruses causing colds could not be cultivated and detected in the laboratory, volunteers were needed for all direct experiments on the common cold.
By 1959 many of the viruses which caused colds could be cultivated and recognised in tissue cultures, and the problem of common colds was being studied in many laboratories without using human volunteers. However, the CCU continued to use large numbers of volunteers in various studies:
- The study of common cold viruses that could not yet be cultivated in the laboratory
- Investigation of the process of infection in humans and the spread of the virus from person to person
- Development and testing of methods of vaccination
- Assessment of effectiveness of antiviral substances
Links between Porton Down and the CCU
There is an obvious geographical link between the two establishments based at Porton Down and Harnham Down, with both sites being only a few miles from Salisbury. They are, however, on opposite sides of the city.
During the 1950s and 60s there were links between the establishments as the Microbiological Research Establishment (MRE) often provided technical support and equipment for the CCU.
There were often scientific seminars and discussions that would involve scientists from both sites. It was this type of collaboration that in 1952 led to the setting up of the South Wiltshire Virology Group, a discussion group which includes virologists from many different backgrounds which is still going strong today.
At one time, when the accommodation units at Harnham Down became rather dilapidated, it was suggested that the Unit should be moved to Porton Down, where there was a lot of space. This suggestion was resisted by the MRC as it was felt they would no longer be able to attract volunteers if they were associated with the MOD research establishments.
Papers published in technical journals show that throughout the 1950s, 60s and 70s, large numbers of Service personnel took part in trials of Influenza vaccines. These trials were organised and conducted by the Medical Research Council and the CCU, and took place at both military units and the CCU.
In summary, it is clear the CCU and Ministry of Defence establishment at Porton Down were completely separate. No work on the common cold has been undertaken at Porton Down and there is no evidence that volunteers were recruited for trials at Porton Down under the pretext of common cold research.
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