COMET20d [COVID-19]
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A study to collect bone marrow for production of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stromal Cells to treat severe COVID19 pneumonitis
IRAS ID
283071
Contact name
Andrew McCaskie
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust & University of Cambridge
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 8 months, 5 days
Research summary
Summary of Research
The COVID-19 pandemic, commonly referred to as “coronavirus”, first began in the city of Wuhan, China in December 2019. This virus has since spread globally, with infections reported in nearly every country. COVID-19 targets the body’s respiratory system, where infections can be found in the nose, throat and lungs. The effect of COVID-19 infection is very variable, where many people might not know that they have been infected and have recovered from COVID-19. However, COVID-19 infection can cause people to have difficulty breathing. This can be severe enough to require hospitalisation and potentially intensive care treatment. \n\nWhile they are being treated in hospital, COVID-19-infected patients can be found to have inflamed tissue in their lungs (referred to medically as “pneumonitis”). This inflammation is thought to be caused by their body’s immune systems overacting to the infection rather than the COVID-19 virus itself. By potentially dampening down this overreaction of their immune system, it is hoped that COVID-19 patients with inflamed lungs have better and quicker chance to survive.\n\nMesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have been shown to have anti-inflammatory and healing properties on injured tissue. MSCs have been trialed in various diseases but have not yet been tested on patients with COVID-19. In this study, we will obtain bone marrow from healthy volunteers to develop a cell-based treatment for COVID-19-related pneunomitis. We will also determine whether it is feasible to recruit bone marrow donors in a clinically useful timeframe to treat COVID-19 patients. A future trial, COMET20, will use the bone marrow-derived MSCs (BM-MSCs) manufactured in COMET20d to treat COVID-19 patients suffering with pneumonitis, to determine whether the BM-MSCs can reduce the likelihood for mechanical ventilation and reduce hospitalisation.Summary of Results
One healthy volunteer was successfully recruited to this trial where bone marrow harvest took place. The bone marrow collected has gone under analysis and concluded that there is the ability to produce a product for clinical use.REC name
London - West London & GTAC Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/LO/0727
Date of REC Opinion
4 May 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion