The race to find a cure is on. In Israel, scientists say they may be just weeks away, from developing a vaccine. Stephanie Freid reports from the Galilee.

Four years ago Israel's government asked scientists at this government-funded research facility to find a vaccine for the next big virus

A team including immunologists, microbiologists and veterinary virologists went to work. And, as sometimes happens in the world of medical discoveries, they "bumped" into what they say may be a COVID-19 vaccine.

STEPHANIE FREID Galilee "When Covid-19 came crashing onto the scene, scientests here weren't focused on humans. They were looking at chickens."

Specifically, the team was developing an infectious bronchitis virus or IBV vaccine for birds. They tweaked the vaccine's structure, adapting it to COVID-19.

EHUD SHAHAR Lead Immunologist, MIGAL Corona Project "The same immune response will basically target the same proteins - human corona proteins - of the similar avian coronavirus and will neutralize it in the same manner."

65% of human and chicken DNA is the same, that leaves a considerable variable. But researchers are confident. Their tests on chickens had a 90% success rate.

CHEN KATZ Lead Microbiologist, MIGAL Corona Project "Quite different in their sequence but similar in structure and function, and therefore we are quite positive it will work similar to the avian virus."

If approved in human trials, the vaccine will be administered orally. Moving into the clinical trial phase is the next big challenge. In non-Corona times, trials can take months or even years. Considering COVID-19's scope, the process will undoubtedly be accelerated IF the vaccine is approved for human testing. Stephanie Freid, CGTN, Northern Israel.