Clinical Research Directory

Tropism and Pathogenesis of Influenza Virus and Coronavirus in Human Brain Explant Culture

Background: Influenza and coronavirus have been repeatedly causing pandemic recently. Like the Influenza A/H7N9 virus has caused five epidemics in China since its first detection in East China in 2013. In 2017, the previously low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) H7N9 virus underwent mutation in its haemagglutinin to give to a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus causing 32 human cases and potentially poses a threat to animal and human health. More recently, the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has been heavily affecting the world. Therefore an effective risk assessment platform is urgently required for better pandemic preparation. Hypothesis: The tissue tropism and pathogenesis of a newly emerged infectious viruses, like the highlypathogenic influenza, like H7N9 and coronavirus, like SARS-CoV-2 would be different from that of their low pathogenic subtype and it would infect and replicate the human respiratory system more efficiently. Because of its resistance to oseltamivir for influenza and no effective antiviral for coronavirus, investigators therefore propose to set up an novel and effective risk assessment platform for emerging infectious viruses. Experimental Design: The tissue tropism and viral replication kinetics of a HPAI and LP influenza and coronavirus will be determined in ex vivo cultures of human brain and compared with their LP subtype. The replication competence and innate immune responses of influenza and coronavirus will be studied and compared with other LP virus in in vitro cultures of human brain cells and human microvascular endothelial cells (HMVEC) both isolated from human brain tissues. Expected outcomes: HPAI influenza and coronavirus particularly SARS-CoV-2 will infect and replicate the human brain tissues and cells more efficiently than their LP subtype. Besides, HPAI influenza and SARS-CoV-2 will induce dysregulated host innate immune response than the LP subtype.

A Study to Explore the Role of Gut Flora in COVID-19 Infection

This study seeks to determine whether the virus which causes COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, is shed in the stools of patients who are infected.

At-Home COVID-19 Antibody Test Usability Assessment & Behavior Change Study

Radish Health and ProofPilot in coordination with Sanesco are running this study to help establish whether the Premier Biotech COVID-19 IgG/IgM Rapid Test Cassette (Whole Blood/Serum/Plasma Authorized for distribution under emergency use authorization - though not yet FDA reviewed) can be conducted effectively at home to detect COVID-19 antibodies among individuals who have tested positive, or suspect they have previous contracted from COVID-19 and recovered. The study also aims to examine how the results of those tests change social-distancing behaviors and general anxiety over 8 weeks post-test.

First-in-human Study to Evaluate the Safety and Immunogenicity of Three Dose Levels of the OVX033 Coronavirus Vaccine Candidate in Healthy Volunteers

This first-in-human clinical trial is designed to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of one administration of OVX033 coronavirus vaccine at different dose levels (100µg, 250µg and 500µg)

ELderly REspiratory VIral Cohort

In addition to SarsCov2, the main viral respiratory risks are associated with influenza viruses, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human metapneumovirus (hMPV) parainfluenza virus (PIV), adenovirus, rhinovirus, coronavirus and others. HMPV is a respiratory virus discovered in 2001. Like RSV, it appears to be a threat in terms of morbidity and mortality in susceptible populations. Overall, viral infections can cause significant functional decline in older patients, with 67% and 25% reported to be at least temporarily housebound or bedridden, respectively. Respiratory viral infections prevent older patients from functioning and performing their daily tasks. They therefore have a significant impact on the older patients and their families. In addition, respiratory viruses are key factors in the exacerbation of chronic diseases. The aims of this study are to provide a better understanding of the role of hMPV compared to common respiratory viruses on morbimortality, risk of dependency, quality of life alteration in older inpatients.

Observational Digital Biomarker Discovery in Respiratory Virus Challenge Studies

Background: Respiratory viruses circulate throughout the year and around the globe. Wearable and sensor devices, like smartwatches, may be able to help monitor infectious diseases. Researchers want to use them to learn how respiratory viruses affect people in different ways. Objective: To use digital devices to collect data from participants in challenge studies that could indicate subtle changes in health during an infection that might otherwise go unnoticed. Eligibility: Healthy adults who have enrolled, were recently enrolled, or are scheduled to enroll in a challenge study. Design: Participants will stay at NIH for the duration of the challenge study (at least 9 days) and then will have outpatient follow-up visits (2-4). While at NIH, participants will wear a smartwatch at all times. It will record data like temperature, heart rate, breathing rate, and movements. Participants will have a smartphone that records at all times to listen for coughing and changes in voice. Participants will perform tasks every 4 hours during the daytime. They will record themselves coughing, breathing in deeply, and reading aloud. They will take videos of their face. They will play a game to test their reflexes and focus. They will measure their head temperature with their smartwatch. For outpatient visits, participants will use one smartphone and the smartwatch to complete the above tasks. Participants will be sent a smartwatch to wear at home at night to collect additional healthy data. Participation will last the duration of each challenge study, and may range from 10 weeks to 2 years.

Prospective Clinical Evaluation of the BioFire Emerging Coronavirus Panel for the Detection of COVID-19 and Other Coronaviruses

The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) has contracted BioFire Defense (BFDf) to develop the BioFire Emerging Coronavirus (ECoV) Panel, a nucleic acid test capable of detecting coronaviruses from nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) in transport medium. This study aims to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the assays comprising the BioFire ECoV Panel. It is hypothesized that the BioFire ECoV Panel assays will be highly sensitive and specific for the detection of the coronaviruses included on the panel.

SPI-1005 Treatment in Severe COVID-19 Patients

The study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose escalation, multi-center clinical trial (RCT) of SPI-1005 in adult subjects with positive PCR test for novel SARS-CoV-2 (nCoV2) and severe symptoms of COVID-19 disease.

Natural Killer Cell (CYNK-001) Infusions in Adults With COVID-19

This study is a Phase 1 / 2 trial to determine the safety and efficacy of CYNK-001, an immunotherapy containing Natural Killer (NK) cells derived from human placental CD34+ cells and culture-expanded, in patients with moderate COVID-19 disease.

Viral Excretion in Contact Subjects at High/Moderate Risk of Coronavirus 2019-nCoV Infection. COVID-19.

In December 2019, a pneumonia due to a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in the city of Wuhan, in China. In a few weeks, the number of confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection has dramatically increased, with almost 150'000 cases and more than 6'000 reported deaths on March, 16th 2020. Little is known on the rate of human-to-human transmission of this new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 in the community and within the hospital. Depending on the country, contact subjects considered to be at high or moderate risk of SARS-CoV-2 are, either isolated at home for a period of time defined by the health authorities or, on the contrary, continue their professional activity on the condition that they adopt measures to prevent transmission to those around them. In most European countries, healthcare workers adopt this second option. In all cases, it is most often recommended that contact persons monitor their state of health and communicate it to the persons dedicated to this action. Whether such subjects become spreaders of the virus is not known, nor is the proportion of viral spreader who will develop a symptomatic infection.

Convalescent Plasma Collection and Treatment in Pediatrics and Adults

This is a prospective study, using plasma to help fight off infections of those suffering from COVID-19 in accordance with collection guidelines for plasma and FDA IND requirements. This study included up to 240 participants potentially receiving convalescent plasma. NOTE: West Virginia does not have any entity with the required FDA registration/licensure or necessary equipment to collect convalescent plasma for transfusion. Therefore, the plasma donation portion of this study was not completed.

Evaluation of Concordance Between Exhaled Air Test (eBAM-CoV) and RT-PCR to Detect SARS-CoV-2

During the COVID-19 pandemic, testing primarily relied on the use of nasopharyngeal swabs to detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus, responsible for the disease. However, this technique has several limitations, including the variable quality of swabs, its invasive nature, and arbitrariness in the choice of the number of cycles. Furthermore, it does not allow for the detection of viral proteins. To overcome these limitations, researchers developed the eBAM-CoV test, patented for the detection of viral proteins in the exhaled air of COVID-19 patients. This portable device provides an immediate assessment of the "viral load" with both quantitative and qualitative results, showing promise for early virus detection. The researchers hypothesize that the eBAM-CoV test is likely to exhibit a satisfactory concordance with the reference RT-PCR test in the detection of COVID-19, especially among symptomatic patients or closed contacts.

COVID-19 Biorepository

Establish a COVID-19 biorepository to aid in developing our knowledge of the disease.

Rutgers COVID-19 Cohort Study

Our long-term goal is to protect the health care workforce (HCW) caring for SARS-CoV-2-infected patients, their families, communities, and the general population. Our specific objective is to rapidly establish a prospective cohort to characterize the factors related to viral transmission and disease severity in a large healthcare system. We addressed this hypothesis by recruiting and longitudinally following 546 HCW and a comparison group of 283 non-HCW within a large academic health system, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences (RBHS). By intensively following participants over a several year period (2020-2024) and collecting serial biospecimens (nasopharyngeal/throat swabs, blood, and saliva) and questionnaire data at multiple time points, we will uniquely characterize SARS-CoV-2 transmission and risk factors for COVID-19 among HCW and our larger academic community.

A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Itolizumab in Subjects Hospitalized With COVID-19

This is a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of itolizumab in subjects hospitalized with COVID-19.

ARMOR Study: COVID-19 Seroprevalence Among Healthcare Workers

The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has spread all around the world and testing has posed a challenge globally. Health care providers are highly exposed and are an important group to test. On top of these concerns, health care workers are also stressed by the needs on responders in the COVID-19 crisis. The investigators will look at different ways to measure how common COVID-19 is among health care workers, how common is the presence of antibodies by serological tests (also known as serostatus). The investigators will describe health worker mental and emotional well-being and their coping strategies in their institutional settings. Lastly, the investigators will describe how knowing serostatus can affect individuals' mental and emotional well-being and how to cope in the midst of the COVID-19 response. This will help to how to better test and help healthcare workers in the COVID-19 pandemic and prepare for possible future outbreaks.

Impact of Aerosol Box Use During Cardiopulmonary Arrest: A Multicenter Study

Aerosol Generating Medical Procedures (AGMP) are procedures that have the potential to create tiny particles suspended in the air. These particles can contain germs such as viruses. The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 experience unusually high rates of critical illness that needs advanced airway management and intensive care unit admission. Bag-valve-mask (BVM) ventilation, endotracheal Intubation (ETI) and chest compressions are sometimes required for critically ill COVID-19 patients, and may contribute to a high risk of infection amongst Health Care Workers (HCW). To lessen HCW risk during high-risk procedures, a device called an aerosol box has been developed to place over the head of the patient, shielding the provider's face from virus droplets suspended in the air. The purpose of this research study is to better understand how particles disperse during AGMPs, more specifically during the provision of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The project team hopes what is learned from the project can help inform infection control measures. This could help make changes to the clinical environment and make it safer for HCW's. The investigators intend to explore how an aerosol box performs in reducing contamination of HCW's who perform critical airway interventions during resuscitation events.

Next Generation T-cell Vaccine Against Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

The study aims to investigate the safety and immunogenicity of one dose vs two doses of a T-cell priming next-generation vaccine against Coronavirus disease.

Risk Factors for Community- and Workplace Transmission of COVID-19

The project is an epidemiological observational study based on an electronic questionnaire on risk factors for COVID-19 in the community and healthcare setting.