Researchers from Florida Atlantic University (FAU) have launched a registry and repository to contribute to new discoveries and knowledge related to COVID-19, announced the university in a news release. They are recruiting participants who have had a positive test and collecting blood and saliva samples for the repository.
Specimen collection will support research efforts related to the novel coronavirus transmission and will enable scientists to develop new approaches for prevention and control, as well as novel therapeutics that may provide broad benefit for future public health, biomedical and translational research initiatives. In addition to studying current research questions, these samples also will be stored for future investigations.
“Creating this registry and repository will help us address key knowledge gaps regarding COVID-19 epidemiology and pathogenesis,” said Karin Scarpinato, Ph.D., FAU’s senior associate vice president for research. “We are looking for innovative sources of comprehensive, real-world COVID-19 data, and our university is uniquely positioned to gather this data and contribute knowledge related to this virus.”
The registry and repository is spearheaded by FAU’s Institute for Human Health and Disease Intervention (I-Health), one of the university’s four research pillars, and FAU’s Clinical Research Unit. The research team includes scientists and physicians from FAU’s Schmidt College of Medicine; Charles E. Schmidt College of Science; College of Engineering and Computer Science; Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing; and Division of Research.
“A study of this nature has scientific, public health and social value. The transdisciplinary group of investigators are collecting information from a diverse South Florida population, whereby participants may have recovered at home, had a telehealth visit or not have accessed the health system for treatment,” said Ximena Levy, M.D., M.P.H., director of the Clinical Research Unit, FAU’s Division of Research, who is spearheading the project. “These data and specimens will provide information about the progression of the disease, treatment response, long-term effects and economic effects, among others. Currently, there are no databases outside of research collecting this type of information.”
To participate in the COVID-19 registry and repository, participants must have a documented positive test report and currently showing no symptoms of COVID-19. Participants with a positive test will be invited to attend two visits to the research site for an interview and collection of blood and saliva samples. Each visit will last approximately 45 to 60 minutes and participants will be reimbursed for their time and transportation with a $50 gift card for the first visit and a $25 gift card for the second visit.
“An essential strategy for managing COVID-19 requires vast amounts of real-world data to enable us to find patterns that will help us to better understand this disease,” said Gregg B. Fields, Ph.D., executive director of FAU’s I-Health and a professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, FAU’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. “We will win this battle as we gain more knowledge about the way COVID-19 is being transmitted, symptom development over time after initial exposure, the efficacy of specific treatments used, efforts to contain the spread of the virus, the presence of specific ‘hot spots’ and especially patient outcomes.”
