LONDON, ON – Researchers at Lawson Health Research Institute and Western University have launched a new study to help us better understand how the body’s immune system responds to COVID-19.
Any time there is a threat to the body, the immune system is activated. Some early reports from scientists and physicians working with COVID-19 patients indicate that this virus may cause a cytokine storm, or a heightened immune response, in some patients.
“Some researchers are suggesting that mortality could be improved with immunosuppressive therapies, however, evidence to support this is severely lacking at this time,” explains Dr. Douglas Fraser, lead researcher and Paediatric Critical Care Physician at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC).
Daily blood samples are being taken from patients at LHSC who are presumed to have COVID-19. The samples are tested for inflammatory biomarkers and this information is recorded to track the changing immune response over time. The immune response in COVID-19 positive patients will also be compared to the immune response in patients with other infections, as well as in healthy controls. Clinical data of enrolled patients is also being recorded, and can be used in future studies.
Dr. Fraser, also a Lawson Scientist and Professor at Western’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, explains, “if a hyperinflammatory response is found to contribute to greater adverse outcomes from COVID-19, there are current therapies available to help these cases. This study could also inform why some people become critically ill and others do not, and help determine who will respond to certain therapies.”
This research will help provide an overall understanding of how the immune system reacts to COVID-19. As a hospital-based research institute, laboratories at Lawson are uniquely positioned to handle these types of studies, as close proximity to patients and sample collection is essential.
COVID-19, also referred to as the 2019 Novel Coronavirus, is a new respiratory virus first identified in Wuhan, China. On March 12, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. As of March 26, 2020, there are over 510,000 confirmed cases and over 22,000 recorded deaths world-wide.
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Lawson Health Research Institute is one of Canada’s top hospital-based research institutes, tackling the most pressing challenges in health care. As the research institute of London Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph’s Health Care London, our innovation happens where care is delivered. Lawson research teams are at the leading-edge of science with the goal of improving health and the delivery of care for patients. Working in partnership with Western University, our researchers are encouraged to pursue their curiosity, collaborate often and share their discoveries widely. Research conducted through Lawson makes a difference in the lives of patients, families and communities around the world. To learn more, visit www.lawsonresearch.ca.
The Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at Western University is one of Canada’s preeminent medical and dental schools. Established in 1881, it was one of the founding schools of Western University and is known for being the birthplace of family medicine in Canada. For more than 130 years, the School has demonstrated a commitment to academic excellence and a passion for scientific discovery.
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