Clinical Research Directory

Reducing Respiratory Virus Transmission in Bangladeshi Classrooms

This study will test if affordable air cleaning devices (box fans with a filter attached and/or ultraviolet light lamps) installed in classrooms can reduce the number of viral respiratory illnesses schoolchildren experience.

Outpatient Treatment With Anti-Coronavirus Immunoglobulin

The primary objective of the Outpatient Treatment with Anti-Coronavirus Immunoglobulin (OTAC) (INSIGHT 012) trial is to compare the safety and efficacy of a single infusion of anti-COVID-19 hyperimmune intravenous immunoglobulin (hIVIG) versus placebo among adults with recently diagnosed severe acute respiratory syndrome - coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) infection who do not require hospitalization. The primary endpoint of this double-blind randomized trial is a five-category ordinal outcome that assesses the participant's clinical status seven days after the infusion of hIVIG or placebo. 1. Asymptomatic and no limitations in usual activity due to COVID-19 2. Mild COVID-19 illness or minor limitations to usual activity 3. Moderate COVID-19 illness and with major limitations to usual activity 4. Severe COVID-19 or serious disease manifestation from COVID-19 5. Critical illness from COVID-19 or Death Two strata of participants will be identified for analysis purposes. Stratum 2 will be participants who receive direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) or other anti-SARS-CoV2 agents that are approved/available and recommended for use as part of standard of care (SOC), estimated to be about 20% of participants. Stratum 1 will be participants who do not receive this agents, estimated to be about 80% of participants.

LIPId Profile Changes in Inflammatory Conditions Induced by SARS-CORoronavirus-2

In late 2019, a new coronavirus called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was identified as the cause of COVID-19 (COronaVIrus Disease-2019) in Hubei Province, China. COVID-19 has become a pandemic with approximately 4.1 million confirmed cases as of May 2020 resulting in 280,000 deaths worldwide. Between 5 and 20% of patients hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 infection are admitted to the ICU with a mortality ranging from 25 to 60% depending on the series. At present, there is no effective targeted therapy against this viral infection. High-density lipoproteins (HDL) are nanoparticles made up of apolipoproteins, mainly apoA1, associated with phospholipids whose main function is the reverse transport of cholesterol from peripheral tissues to the liver. This property gives HDL a major cardiovascular protective effect. In addition to this effect, studies have highlighted a number of properties such as anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, anti-thrombotic and anti-oxidant effects of these particles. Furthermore, it has been shown that HDL is able to bind and neutralize bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS), promoting their elimination. During bacterial sepsis, a rapid decrease in plasma HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) concentration has been demonstrated, but also an inverse correlation between mortality and HDL-C concentration. In addition to the quantitative decrease in HDL during sepsis, dysfunctions of these particles have been described, such as major differences in size, or a notable alteration in protein composition with, in particular, more pro-inflammatory proteins. In this context of both quantitative and qualitative alteration of HDL, authors have tested the efficacy of injection of either reconstituted HDL (apoA1 + phosphatidylcholines) or peptides structurally similar to ApoA1 in animal models of sepsis and have demonstrated a protective effect on morbidity and mortality, with in particular a decrease in the inflammatory state induced by sepsis. Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) can also neutralize LPS and observational studies have shown a decrease in the concentration of LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) during sepsis. The authors also showed that low LDL-C was associated with a poor prognosis in patients with sepsis. During COVID-19-induced sepsis, a few studies have demonstrated a decrease in lipoprotein (HDL and LDL) concentration. More specifically, some authors have found an association between low lipoprotein concentrations and increased disease severity. To the best of the knowledge of the investigators, no study has specifically investigated particulate dysfunction of lipoproteins and in particular HDL during severe COVID-19 infections. On the other hand, as it has been described that lipoproteins and particularly HDL can bind bacterial components (LPS or LTA) favoring their clearance, it can be envisaged that these particles can also bind SARS-CoV-2 components, and this, in a more or less strong way depending on the virus strain. The preliminary results of the investigators show that in sepsis, serum amyloid A (SAA) protein tends to replace apolipoprotein A1, making HDL dysfunctional. In addition, paraoxonase-1, an antioxidant enzyme mainly carried by HDL, is almost absent or degraded in septic patients. The SAA/PON-1 ratio could allow to assess the severity of COVID-19 damage and to reinforce a possible therapeutic strategy based on the supplementation of severe patients with apolipoprotein A1 and PON-1 rich HDL nanoparticles. Main objective: To evaluate the functionality of HDL as a prognostic marker of mortality in COVID-19 patients in ICU. To do so, a quantification of the SAA/PON-1 ratio at plasma level and on isolated lipoproteins will be performed by ELISA.

Cellular Senescence and COVID-19 Long-Hauler Syndrome

The purpose of this study is to test if senescent cells and their secretome contribute to Long-Hauler Syndrome and if a clinical trial of senolytic drugs, which selectively eliminate senescent cells, should be initiated.

Remote Assessment of Outpatient With Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV-2)

Outpatient management of patients with a milder form of COVID may be associated to an unfavorable initial or deferred course in relation to the pathology.. Outpatients represent the bulk of patients with COVID-19. To know their evolution, their secondary complications and identifying a profile of "at risk" patients is essential for the prevention and care of future non-hospitalized patients, in an epidemic context still active. This study could make it possible to redefine the follow-up of outpatients. The study consists of a simple questionnaire and possibly a teleconsultation.

PAxlovid loNg cOvid-19 pRevention triAl With recruitMent In the Community in Norway

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare treatment with oral Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir/ritonavir) and placebo for acute COVID-19 as an intervention to prevent long-COVID (post-COVID-19 condition) in adults aged 18-64 years old. The main question it aims to answer is: Does treatment with Paxlovid for acute COVID-19 reduce the prevalence of long-COVID compared to placebo. Participants with acute COVID-19, documented with positive lateral flow test or PCR, within the last 5 days will be randomised to take either Paxlovid or placebo. All participants will receive standard of care in addition. Participants will respond to electronic questionnaires at 14 time points during follow-up. The primary outcome is presence of long-COVID symptoms at 3 months follow-up. Researchers will compare participants who received Paxlovid and placebo to see if Paxlovid treatment can prevent the occurrence of long-COVID.

Pediatric COVID Outcomes Study (PECOS)

This is a multisite prospective observational study to evaluate the clinical sequelae of symptomatic and asymptomatic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in the pediatric population, including coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), and characterize the immune response associated with these clinical presentations. Participants aged 21 years and younger with laboratory confirmed history of symptomatic or asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection will visit the study sites for clinical and research evaluations and sample collection at schedules dependent on time since infection. Participants enrolled within 12 weeks after acute infection or positive test will be part of the "recovery group" and will attend study visits at baseline, every 3 months for the first 6 months, and subsequently every 6 months for a total of 3 years. Participants enrolled more than 12 weeks after acute infection or positive test will be in the "convalescent group" and will attend study visits at baseline and subsequently every 6 months for a total of 3 years. Individuals (aged ≤21 years) without a diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection or current symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 will serve as a control group and will attend visits for evaluations and sample collection at baseline and every 12 months for a total of 3 years. This protocol will establish a cohort of pediatric patients recovered from SARS CoV-2 infection and a biorepository for evaluation of the potential roles of host genetics, immune response, and other possible factors influencing long-term outcomes. Parents or guardians of participants in all cohorts will also be enrolled for limited participation to complete questionnaires about how the family is impacted by the participant's health and SARS-CoV-2.

MISC COVID-19 Study in Pediatric Population

Rationale: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome - Coronavirus - 2 (SARS-CoV2) and its related Coronavirus Disease - 19 (COVID-19) has become a health emergency worldwide. The medical community has been concerned since the beginning of the outbreak about the potential impact of COVID-19 in children, especially in those with underlying chronic diseases. Fortunately, COVID-19 has been reported to be less severe in children than in adults. Unfortunately, a new multisystem inflammatory syndrome apparently related to infection with SARS-CoV-2 has recently been reported in older children (known as MIS-C), manifested by severe abdominal pain, cardiac dysfunction and shock. However, the SARS-CoV2 infection and the underlying immunology of COVID-19, its correlation with disease severity and MIS-C in children is not fully explored. Objectives: To perform systems immunology and strain diversity among SARS-CoV2 and MIS-C infected children. Study design: Cross sectional study. Study population: Children attending outpatients units and admitted in wards in pediatric hospitals in Chennai. Main study parameters/endpoints: Immune responses in children with SARS-CoV2 infection and multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) infection and its association of SARS-CoV2 viral diversity.