BIRMINGHAM, Dec 27: A vaccine administered orally that could revolutionize the fight against cancer is being developed by a Birmingham scientist.

It is the first time the new method of inoculation, which could also have major implications against flu and Hepatitis, has been investigated in the United Kingdom.

Dr Yvonne Perrie has received a research grant from the Royal society to head a project investigating the potential of delivering DNA vaccines by mouth at Aston University.

Dr Perrie said that the DNA vaccine would be administered to a patient in a small solution of liquid containing synthetic substances — called liposomes. The liposomes would act as a small carrier with a structure similar to a cell membrane.

Instead of injecting a virus to stimulate the body’s defence to fight a foreign body, the DNA vaccine would work by telling the body to create immunity using genetics.

“Traditional vaccinations often use live or killed virus or less effectively the protein component of a virus to give the body immunity,” she said.

“The DNA method will use the genetic instructions for parts of a virus or invading organism to give the body the information that it needs to create immunity to the virus or cancer.”

Interest in DNA vaccines first began during 1990s, but Dr Perrie is the first researcher to investigate the application of oral liposomes.

DNA vaccines that can be administered to the patient via less convenient and more painful routes, such as intramuscular injection, are in process of clinical trials.

But by-mouth method being explored by Dr Perrie would be a much easier and pain-free way of vaccinating patients against diseases.