InfeCtion respONse through vIrus genomiCs (ICONIC)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
InfeCtion respONse through vIrus genomiCs (ICONIC)
IRAS ID
131373
Contact name
DEENAN PILLAY
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London
Research summary
Viral genome sequencing will be developed and used to guide clinical management, infection control and public health approaches.
a) Why
Viruses are common causes of severe disease, and virus infections are extremely disruptive to hospitals and the community. Currently available NHS laboratory tests are unable to help identify how these viruses have been spread, or introduced into the hospital (e.g. from another hospital patient or someone from outside), or whether a virus has become resistant to some antiviral drugs. Our proposal aims to develop the methods to answer these questions. The outcome of our research will directly help doctors to improve the treatment of those with HIV and HCV and reduce/limit the spread of norovirus/influenza in its wards. Measles will also be one of the viruses studied as it continues to spread amongst young people due to inadequate immunisation rates.
b) What and how
We will develop a novel set of methods to obtain the genetic sequence of viruses from patients. This will be done by using residual nucleic acids taken from clinical samples sent for viral diagnosis. In view of the huge amount of information generated by sequencing, bespoke methods will be developed for linking information (pseudo-anonymised) to other important clinical data, such as symptoms, as well as age and geographic location.
c) Who
Samples will be obtained from three sources; (i) primary virology diagnostic NHS laboratories, (ii) Public Health England (PHE) laboratories and (iii) the HCV Research UK Biobank.
d) Where
Initially residual nucleic acid samples will be collected at North East London laboratories and later from PHE and the HCV Biobank. Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute (WTSI) will whole genome sequence the pseudo-anonymised samples. At WTSI a viral database storage capacity will be developed and this virus genome data will then be linked at secure sites, such as PHE to UK clinical database resources.REC name
London - Surrey Borders Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/LO/1303
Date of REC Opinion
21 Aug 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion