Assessing immunity in COVID-19
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Assessing immunity in COVID-19
IRAS ID
295732
Contact name
Daniel Altmann
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Imperial College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
n/a, n/a
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 9 months, 1 days
Research summary
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, our research laboratory has been at the forefront of analysis of immunity to SARS-CoV-2, producing evidence on the nature and durability of protective immunity after natural infection of vaccination. We now plan a study to compare aspects of immunity between people who have made a good recovery from infection and those who suffer persistent symptoms - Long Covid. To do this we will recruit volunteers and take blood samples on two separate occasions. They will also complete a short questionnaire which will enable us to benchmark immune parameters against symptoms of Long Covid. In some cases we may also request a 6-minute walk-test with oximetry - that is, using oxygen desaturation as a gauge of respiratory function. In some cases we may request a stool sample to test for PCR-amplifiable virus copies. The work has been funded by NIHR with the aim that, by studying the defining immune parameters, we will be able to generate new, diagnostic tests. This would supply urgently needed, objective, test criteria for clinical referral, as well as pointing the way to therapeutic approaches.
REC name
London - Fulham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/HRA/4260
Date of REC Opinion
23 Nov 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion