Studies

Seeking Close Contacts of People Who Have Had SARS-CoV-2

Study participants needed to help understand immunity to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19

ABOUT THE STUDY

The COVID-19 global pandemic is an unprecedented health emergency, and we at QIMR Berghofer, with our extensive history in infectious diseases research, are in a unique position to take up the challenge of urgently needed COVID-19 research across a range of areas.

A key area of our research is discovering how the human immune system fights the disease so that we can develop treatments to help very sick patients. Fighting coronavirus is a global effort and we are determined to use our advanced skills in immunotherapy development and manufacturing to help.

The research team is currently studying the immune responses of people who have recovered from SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Next, they would like to study the immune systems of people who were close contacts of someone who had SARS-CoV-2, according to the criteria below. Thank you for your interest in this exciting new project.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Our researchers are seeking 100 adult volunteer participants who have not had SARS-CoV-2*, and who fall into either of the following groups:

  1. They were living with a person who was infected with SARS-CoV-2, at the time they tested positive for this virus; or
  2. They work (or have worked) in a hospital or testing centre and have closely interacted with one or more people infected with SARS-CoV-2.

Volunteers should be based in southeast Queensland, as they will need to visit one of twelve participating pathology laboratories in Brisbane, Ipswich, the Sunshine Coast or Gold Coast to provide a blood sample.

*Note: If you have previously tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, you are not considered a ‘close contact’ by the researchers, but you can still assist with this research. Please visit this website for more information.

SIGN UP PROCESS

Please fill out the form below with your name and email address, and a researcher from QIMR Berghofer’s Translational and Human Immunology Group will contact you directly to complete a brief survey involving pre-screening questions, provision of consent and the collection of health information. They will then identify a mutually convenient time and location to collect your blood sample.

To submit an expression of interest in participating in the study, please complete your details in the form below:

QIMR-HREC Approval Reference: P3618

Recruitment Status: OPEN

STUDY CONTACT DETAILS

Coordinator/s: Dr Katherine Matthews and Dr Michelle Neller

Eimmunotherapy@qimrberghofer.edu.au