EMPOWER - BAME vs COVID
Research type
Research Study
Full title
EMPOWER – BAME vs COVID: A multi-site clinical cohort research study to identify genetic associations and candidate therapeutic targets to reduce COVID-19 morbidity & mortality rates in BAME populations
IRAS ID
284619
Contact name
Mohammed Kamran
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Future Genetics Limited
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
The EMPOWER – BAME vs COVID clinical study is a 12-month project designed to rapidly generate data that can be used to reduce COVID-19 infections. By recruiting White, Black and South Asian patients on a 1:1:1 ratio from a region heavily impacted by COVID-19 infections, this large prospective longitudinal cohort study comprising of at least 12,800 participants may identify primary care patients who had/have/will have asymptomatic, mild, moderate or severe infections. Through regular updates, this shared epidemiological data may support local and national NHS organisations such as NHS England, local NHS Trusts, CCGs and Primary care sites in addressing immediate and longer-term COVID-19 public health challenges. The strategic serial-segmentation of cohorts into sub-cohorts may increase targeting for both an elevated genetic variation and maximal variation in outcome. DNA and other biological material collected from different cohorts and sub-cohorts will allow for cross-comparison genetic studies to identify host-defence (“protective”) or predisposing (“susceptibility”) genetic biomarkers. If found, these markers and the pathways in which their protein products operate may form the basis of prevention, treatment or management of at-risk BAME groups and the wider population. Moreover, if drugs already exist against these targets there may be rapid repurposing opportunities that could dramatically attenuate the social and medical consequences of the pandemic.
REC name
London - Camberwell St Giles Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/HRA/3071
Date of REC Opinion
23 Jun 2020
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion