National Jewish Health Launches Study to Investigate SARS-CoV-2 Infection in US Children

Strategic Insights -

Researchers at National Jewish Health have initiated a study to determine the incidence of coronavirus infection among US children, with a goal of understanding the role of children in the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic. The study, known as Human Epidemiology and Response to SARS-CoV-2 (HEROS), will involve sequencing and analyzing 60,000 samples from 6,000 people, including 2,000 children and their family members over a six-month period. The study aims to identify new SARS-CoV-2 infections and COVID-19 illnesses among children and their family members, and to investigate the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infections and COVID-19 illnesses among children.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study, known as Human Epidemiology and Response to SARS-CoV-2 (HEROS), is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and aims to determine the incidence of coronavirus infection among US children.
  • The study will involve sequencing and analyzing 60,000 samples from 6,000 people, including 2,000 children and their family members over a six-month period.
  • The study will help answer an important question about the role of children in the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic: Are children an important source for the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19?
  • The study will also evaluate the role of allergic diseases, such as asthma and atopic dermatitis, in the incidence, symptoms and severity of COVID-19.
  • Researchers expect to enroll 2,000 children and their family members for a total of 6,000 participants, with each participant undergoing at least 10 nasal swabs over the course of six months.
  • Scientists in Dr. Seibold's lab will conduct molecular viral testing on more than 60,000 samples to detect SARS-CoV-2 infection, and will also sequence genomic material from both the virus and study participants.
  • The findings of the study may help clarify why children develop less severe or asymptomatic COVID-19, and may also help scientists devise rational treatments targeted at critical pathways of infection and the "cytokine storm" that causes severe disease.

Statistics:

  • 6,000 people will be involved in the study, including 2,000 children and their family members.
  • 60,000 samples will be sequenced and analyzed over the six-month period.
  • 2,000 children and their family members will undergo nasal swabs every 10 days for six months.
  • The study is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
  • National Jewish Health is the leading respiratory hospital in the nation, founded 121 years ago as a nonprofit hospital.

Sources:

  • National Jewish Health
  • National Institutes of Health (NIH)