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Frontline NHS staff in Bristol will be studied as part of research informing coronavirus vaccine
To understand how the coronavirus evolves in healthy adults, a new research project will gather data on 125 frontline NHS staff in the emergency department of the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children.
Led by infectious disease and immunology specialists from Bristol Royal Hospital for Children and the University of Bristol, findings from the LOGIC project will inform potential vaccines and treatment.
Researchers will track staffs’ symptoms, the presence of the virus in their mouths and noses and the development of the protective antibodies in their blood over the course of three months.
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This research is being funded initially by The Grand Appeal as part of the charity’s emergency coronavirus appeal.
The charity’s emergency appeal has raised £100,000 so far, with these funds ensuring that the charity can not only support sick children in Bristol, but also support projects such as LOGIC to help fight the coronavirus.
The Grand Appeal are supporting the project. Photo: The Grand Appeal
Funding from The Grand Appeal will bridge a gap in money received from the Government, with Adam Finn, professor of paediatrics at the University of Bristol and honorary consultant at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, saying: “The rapid response of our main charitable funder at Bristol Children’s Hospital, The Grand Appeal has enabled us to set up this important study in record time.”
The charity is supporting the university’s research while continuing its work to help the city’s most poorly children. Despite reduced income and furloughed staff, The Grand Appeal is still providing support for staff, patients and families at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at St Michael’s Hospital.
“Over the years, we have worked arm-in-arm with the Children’s Hospital and the university, funding some of the ground-breaking research and projects in development to improve the future for sick babies and children”, says Nicola Masters, director at The Grand Appeal.
“Now, it’s only right that we rise to this challenge and support them in the fight against this invisible enemy.”
The study will work with frontline NHS staff in Bristol. Photo: Hack The Pandemic
“This study is going to tell us a lot about how this infection occurs, when people may infect others, when they develop immune responses and, hopefully, how well those responses protect them against reacquiring the infection,” says Adam.
“We want to uncover the details of the disease’s natural history, which isn’t known at present.”
Donate to The Grand Appeal’s coronavirus appeal at www.grandappeal.org.uk/latest-news/bristol-childrens-hospital-urgent-appeal
Main photo: Hack The Pandemic
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