COVID-19 Clinical Research Group
Like our local and international research colleagues, our focus turned to COVID-19 in 2020, when the severity of the pandemic became evident.
The NSLHD COVID-19 Clinical Research Group, chaired by infectious disease specialist Dr Bernie Hudson, includes members from several disciplines who came together to coordinate our approach to COVID-19 research. Co-chaired by Associate Professor Rory Clifton-Bligh, the rapid evolution of the COVID-19 crisis led to innovative approaches to conceiving and conducting clinical trials involving both COVID-19 patients and healthcare workers. By November 2020, NSLHDwas participating in or leading 41 COVID-19 studies across six broad areas of focus: › Emerging treatments for COVID-19 › Prevention (chemoprophylaxis) of COVID-19 in high risk groups (including healthcare workers) › Biomarker research for diagnosis and prognosis (including biobanking) › Epidemiology of disease outbreaks in NSLHD › Health services data collection and research › The impact on non-COVID-19 related activities (both in healthcare and in research) Significant grants were awarded to NSLHD researchers to undertake a range of important COVID-19 related projects and these are continuing alongside our broader program of health and medical research.
Could a common medication reduce COVID-19 symptoms?
Professor Carol Pollock
One exciting COVID study, involving researchers from across Australia and India, is investigating whether existing blood pressure medications can reduce the risk of severe COVID-19 disease, as well as the duration of severe symptoms. Professor Carol Pollock is leading the RNSH arm of the CLARITY trial, which will involve up to 600 patients over the next year. The trial will investigate whether a class of drugs, called angiotensin receptor blockers, can improve outcomes for COVID-19 patients, by interrupting the virus’ entry into the body’s cells. The trial received $1.4 million from the Australian Government’s Medical Research Future Fund. If the medications are found to be effective, it could represent a major breakthrough in the management of COVID-19 patients.
Publication highlights include: › Abayasingam A, Balachandran H, Agapiou D, et al. Long-term persistence of RBD+ memory B cells encoding neutralizing antibodies in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Cell Rep Med. 2021;2(4):100228. doi:10.1016/j. xcrm.2021.100228, 10.1016/j.xcrm.2021.100228 › Girgis CM, Clifton-Bligh RJ. Osteoporosis in the age of COVID-19. Osteoporos Int. 2020;31(7):1189-1191. doi:10.1007/s00198-020-05413-0, 10.1007/s00198-020-05413-0 › Tsang VH, Gild M, Glover A, Clifton-Bligh R, Robinson BG. Thyroid cancer in the age of COVID-19. Endocr Relat Cancer. 2020 Aug 1:ERC-20-0279.R1
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