Local research center in race for COVID-19 vaccine

San Antonio — The race for a COVID vaccine has been at warp speed around the world for months.

The TX Biomedical Research Institute here – is in the thick of it -- testing potential vaccines for several pharmaceutical companies.

Delaine Mathieu talked with a researcher in charge of one of those studies to find out just how much pressure they’re under to save lives.

"I keep telling myself, it's gonna pay off it's gonna pay off, we're almost there," said Journey Dole, researcher at TX Biomedical Research Institute in San Antonio. "We do know we are almost there."

Journey Dole and her team have been testing a potential vaccine for a pharmaceutical company since March.

Which company that is -- she can't say. "Due to the non-disclosures, I can't say who I can't say how many."

TX Biomed was chosen because they're one of only a few primate centers in the country. "We have the baboons, we have the marmosets, we have the Indian rhesus macaques."

Phase one of the study was all about determining which species was the best candidate to carry the virus -- which was the rhesus macaque.

Phase two has been about testing them.

They infected the macaques with COVID-19 the way humans would be -- through the eyes, nose and mouth.

But -- they were also given a vaccine. "I can't say too much into what it is because we are also double blinded," she explained. "We don't know who's vaccinated, we don't know with what that is the point but once we give them the data, they will reveal to us who's who."

A it's journey's job to make sure the testing goes smoothly for the client. "Tell me about the pressure you are under to A, get it right," Delaine asked. "And B, get it done to the best of your ability."

"It's a lot of pressure," Journey replied. "It's a lot of around the clock hours, weekdays, weekends..."

She's averaging 14-hour days in a high-stress environment -- during times when she and her team of veterinarians are -- handling infected animals and blood. "We're in a high-containment area we're wearing our high-containment gear," Journey said. "But we do have to be aware and awake in there to make sure that small chance doesn't happen."

But the weight of the world is upon her.

She's only 25 -- and realizes the importance of her work and what it could mean in the fight against COVID-19.

"How good would it make you feel if down the road if this particular sponsor gets the vaccine and you need it one day," Delaine asked.

"It would be really nice," Journey replied. "I know we keep telling ourselves if this happens and it works do we get it first?"

They're about to start phase 3 testing -- where macaques will be given the virus twice to see how severe a second infection would be.

Once that's finished, the results will be sent to the fda for human-trial approval.