UHDB taking part in 'Siren' research trial to understand COVID immunity | Research news

UHDB taking part in 'Siren' research trial to understand COVID immunity

siren research team

UHDB is taking part in a national trial aiming to find out whether healthcare workers who have evidence of prior COVID-19, detected by antibody assays (positive antibody tests), compared to those who do not have evidence of infection (negative antibody tests) are protected from future episodes of infection. The trial named SIREN (Sarscov 2 Immunity & Reinfection EvaluatioN) is being led by Public Health England, and will be taking place at 40 centres across the country, including here at the Trust.

It is hoped that the findings from the trial will further our understanding as to whether those who develop SARS CoV -2 antibodies antibodies are protected from getting infected with the same infection again. Through this study we will provide this very important information which will help to understand the future impact of COVID-19 on the population.

At present, the study is open at 73 sites across the country and approximately 12,000 NHS colleagues have volunteered to take part.

At UHDB, the study is being led by Professor Fran Game and around 100 colleagues have been recruited.

Dr Kathleen Holding, one of the Lead Clinical Trials Nurses at UHDB, says that this trial forms part of the bigger picture that COVID antibody testing forms a part of:

“The antibody test in isolation doesn't answer many questions, but it does form part of a much bigger picture regarding our response to the pandemic which the SIREN trial is intended to further inform. The trial aims to answer many of the questions about COVID antibodies, including whether or not you develop antibodies, how long these last and whether or not this means you are protected from getting repeat infections with the same virus.”

“The findings may help us to determine how we move forward not only in the health environment but in everyday life until we find a vaccine for the virus.”

The SIREN trial is set to run for around a year, all healthcare workers, including doctors, nurses, professions allied to medicine, healthcare assistants, administrative staff and porters, who work in a clinical setting where patients are present can take part regardless of their COVID antibody status.

Participants will be routinely tested every two weeks initially, with both a blood sample and nasal/throat swab being taken and analysed to see if the participant has contracted the virus and whether or not they have developed antibodies.

Mr Michael Agyemang, Clinical Trials Nurse Manager at UHDB, said: “We need trials like this to inform us about what actions we should take in the future. We don’t know whether COVID will become seasonal like flu, and we don’t know how it’s going to affect us, so we need to find answers.

SIREN is just one of many SARS CoV -2 research trials the Trust is currently involved in, with recent breakthroughs in the Recovery trial one of the success stories so far, which gives Michael a sense of optimism with SIREN:

“We’re currently involved in several trials investigating COVID-19, and for three of those we’re the highest recruiting Trust in the East Midlands which is really positive.

“The Recovery trial, which discovered that the use of Dexamethasone could aid the recovery of those patients severely affected by COVID, and that was a very exciting breakthrough. Just as with that trial, I’m very excited to be a part of the SIREN trial.”

Kathleen mirrors Michael’s enthusiasm and also has high hopes for the findings of this new trial:

“I’ve been involved in research in the NHS for 14 years, and work like this trial is why I get up and come to work in the morning. Translational research like the SIREN trial is something that becomes real and it’s the whole reason that I got involved in research initially - knowing that I’m working towards helping to develop treatments and improve the care we give to our patients.”

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