Coronagenes: Genetic susceptibility to COVID-19 v1.0 [COVID-19]
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Coronagenes – An international population cohort to investigate genetic susceptibility to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19)
IRAS ID
282271
Contact name
Jo-Anne Robertson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Edinburgh
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 9 months, 31 days
Research summary
CORONAGENES aims to find out what might cause different people to react differently to infections such as those of coronavirus, and why some people might be more prone to show symptoms from infections than others.\nThe chance of developing diseases such as coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is affected by your environment and genes. Environmental influences could include factors such as smoking or diet. Genetic influences are passed through the family and are ‘written’ in your DNA. \nUnderstanding the effect of people’s genetic make-up could lead to better ways of preventing and treating these diseases. However, there are likely to be many contributing genes, each of them having a small effect on the overall risk of developing the disease. This is why we require very large studies to identify which genes these are.\nWe plan to look for changes in genes influencing the risk of COVID-19, by studying people over age 16 from everywhere in the World. Given the current Pandemic, an all-inclusive approach to understanding this disease is necessary. \nWe aim to recruit tens of thousands of people of multiple ethic groups (as ethnic minorities have a disproportionate rate of adverse outcomes) in any country in the world, a subset of whom we hope will have direct-to-consumer genotyping which they are willing to share.\nAll participants will consent to the same study. We’ll invite volunteers worldwide to fill in an online questionnaire (this is the minimal useful bit of information we need) and upload genotype data from direct-to-consumer (DTC) genotyping services where available. For UK participants, we’ll link them to NHS records, ask them to give a saliva sample (where DTC genotypes are not available), using a kit that will be delivered to their home address. Volunteers in the UK who have not had an antibody test will be asked to give a tiny blood sample to test if they have been infected with the virus (regardless of their symptoms). In the future and subject to funding and due diligence of the local regulatory framework we’ll expand the saliva sample, antibody test collection and EHR linkage to the rest of the world. \nIn the middle and longer term, we aim to do research in complex traits and diseases using health data from the electronic health record and self-reported questionnaires.\nThe baseline COVID-19 questionnaire will take about half an hour to complete. Participants will complete a much shorter daily questionnaire when they are experiencing flu-like symptoms. Providing the saliva sample and performing the finger pricking for blood will take a few minutes. The research will continue indefinitely, subject to continued funding and approvals. Those who take part may be re-contacted and invited to be involved in future research studies. \n
REC name
West Midlands - Solihull Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/WM/0157
Date of REC Opinion
3 Jun 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion