Clinical Research Directory

Imaging Immune Activation in COVID-19

This is a single center, single arm exploratory imaging study involving up to two intravenous microdoses of \[18F\]F-AraG (the second tracer dose is optional) followed by whole-body PET-CT imaging in participants with convalescent COVID-19. Up to 80 participants will be enrolled over an accrual period of approximately 48 months.

COVID-19 Contact Study by Antigen Detection Test

Stopping the SARS-CoV2 spread is essential to control the pandemic cause by this virus. A great effort is being made to carry out surveillance, case detection and contact control protocols in order to detect and isolate those contagious subjects. Since both symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects can be contagious, a surveillance system based on the presence of symptoms is not enough, requiring to perform diagnostic tests in a large number of subjects, such as asymptomatic contacts or high-prevalence populations, and repeatedly. Moreover, the speed in obtaining results is crucial in order not to delay the isolations of positive subjects. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is an expensive test which requires specialized equipment and personnel with a delay in results of 24-48 hours. In addition, its high sensitivity can mean that subjects without infective capacity have a positive result. In contrast, antigen detection tests (ADTs) are cheap and easy to perform, having a result in few minutes. They have shown high sensitivity and specificity in symptomatic subjects, specially in the first week of symptoms when the viral load is high. This could be very useful for the study of asymptomatic contacts to detect those with potential contagiousness quick, easily and cheaply. However, there is no evidence to support the use of ADTs in this group of subjects. For this reason, the investigators propose to carry out a study to compare the diagnostic efficacy of ADTs versus PCR in the group of subjects considered to be close contacts of SARS-Cov2 positive patients in the health area of Cáceres.

COVID-19 Vaccine Response in Chronic Respiratory Conditions

The investigators will assess the antibody, T cell and B cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination before and every 3 months for 18 months after the initial vaccination or subsequent vaccinations (boosters) in adults and children including patients with chronic medical conditions.

Mitoquinone/Mitoquinol Mesylate as Oral and Safe Postexposure Prophylaxis for Covid-19

Adults who do not have major health, kidney, gastrointestinal disease will be randomized to receive oral mitoquinone/mitoquinol mesylate (Mito-MES) versus placebo to prevent the development and progression of COVID-19 after high-risk exposure to a person with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection.

SARS-Cov-2 (COVID-19) Nasal Pharyngeal and Oral Pharyngeal Wash (SNOW) Trial

Adults (aged 18-65 years) recently diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection who use a 4-day combined intervention of nasal washes with 1% baby shampoo solution and oral gargles with Listerine Antiseptic® will have a reduced SARS-CoV-2 viral load compared to those using nasal and oral washes with normal saline. This combined intervention should be acceptable, tolerable and safe in this population. To test this, investigators are conducting a trial comparing the efficacy of a number of washes in reducing the oral and nasal SARS-CoV-2 viral load among adults.

KIDney Injury in Times of COVID-19 (KIDCOV)

There is an unmet need to evaluate the impact of sub-clinical/mild COVID19 disease in the outpatient setting on prevalent and incident renal injury, as this data is currently unavailable. To capture the diversity of race/ethnic risk and COVID19 related municipal shelter-in-place guidance, the investigators will enroll COVID19-negative and COVID19-positive samples balanced by race/ethnicity from 3 different states, California, Michigan, and Illinois. Study endpoints will be assayed from urine samples mailed to the study team at 2, 6, and 12 months after their date of PCR test, with no requirement for these individuals to leave their homes to participate.

Prevalence and Outcome of SARS-CoV-2 Infection & COVID-19 in Transplant Recipients: The COVITRA Study

This project will provide novel data using a large cohort of more than 3000 transplanted patients. Risk and protective factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 disease severity will be identified. The proportion of patients who develop antibodies after infection will be revealed. In this way the presence of these antibodies can be evaluated as a test for prior infection. Our study additionally will demonstrate how long these antibodies remain present and whether they are protective against a new infection.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Immune Kidney Transplant Study (COVID-19)

None of the vaccines approved, or in clinical trials, have so far been tested on transplanted patients. If they produce an immune response to the Spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 it is unknown how long the protective immunity will last. Not all immune responses are equal. The investigators will quantify immune cell subsets with flow and mass cytometry analyses to describe the phenotype of responding immune cells, including specific T cells. If not already established, patient human Leukocyte antigen (HLA) genotypes will be typed. In order to compare the immune responses with healthy individuals a control group of hospital employees will be included and sampled before and after vaccination according to the same time schedules as the kidney transplanted patients.

SARS-COV-2 Seroprevalence and Seroconversion Among Employees of the Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel Following mRNA COVID-19 Vaccination

A novel zoonotic coronavirus was discovered in Wuhan (Hubei Province, China) mid-December 2019 and was named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The virus rapidly spread to the rest of the world, including Europe and explicitly affects the respiratory system, generating Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study is a monocentric interventional prospective and retrospective cohort study. After signing a written informed consent, participants will be recruited for questionnaire completion and blood sampling. Sample storage and analysis will be performed at the laboratory of microbiology of the UZ Brussel. To document SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and seroconversion among employees of the UZ Brussel after mRNA vaccination for SARS-CoV-2, namely at 8 weeks after first vaccination, 6 months after first vaccination and 12 months after first vaccination.