epaselect epa08442366 A Thai technician works at a laboratory of the Chula Vaccine Research Center in Bangkok, Thailand, 25 May 2020. A team of researchers at Chulalongkorn University, led by Professor Dr Kiat Ruxrungtham is making progress towards developing an mRNA type vaccine for the COVID-19 disease, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. The team in Thailand began running vaccine tests on monkeys after initial tests on mice proved to be effective. Professor Ruxrungtham said that, if these tests are successful, they will move on to human trials involving the production of 10,000 vaccine doses for 5,000 volunteers.  EPA/DIEGO AZUBEL