BME-COVID [COVID-19]
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Biological Mechanisms underlying susceptibility of BAME people to severe COVID-19 (BME-COVID)
IRAS ID
283751
Contact name
Ajay Shah
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Kings College London
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
BAME groups seem disproportionately affected by severe COVID-19 (hospitalisation, critical care admission, death). The underlying reasons may involve both biological and socioeconomic factors. This study will examine biological pathways underlying increased risk due to ethnicity-comorbidity interaction, which may reveal therapeutic targets to mitigate severe COVID-19 and similar future conditions. We will examine the contribution of ethnicity-related genetic variation to the interaction with comorbidity, using data from existing cohorts and data obtained in this study by genotyping patients from BAME groups who have been previously hospitalised with COVID-19. taking advantage of our ethnically-enriched cohorts and patients and synergising with wider initiatives not focused on ethnicity. In groups of patients with risk factors for COVID-19 including some with a previous diagnosis of COVID-19 we will examine mechanisms that may underlie biological variation in susceptibility to COVID-19 and to link genetic variants to functional pathways and mechanisms that could be druggable.
REC name
Wales REC 6
REC reference
20/WA/0201
Date of REC Opinion
16 Jul 2020
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion