Understanding host response of severe viral pneumonitis

Description

Collaborators

• Benjamin Tang
• Tania Sorrell

Expected outcomes for Australia

A new biomarker assay will be developed to enhance pandemic management in Australia by:

1. Improving patient triage
2. Enabling fast screening of low-risk patients
3. Supporting clinical decisions (eg. discharge of low-risk patient for home isolation)
4. Reducing overcrowding at public hospitals
5. Ensuring rapid referral of high-risk patients to intensive care units (ICUs)
6. Helping allocation of precious health resources.

Background

This project assesses host response biomarkers in blood samples from people infected with SARS-CoV-2 and will compare biomarkers across the spectrum of disease – from mild to moderate and severe.

Objectives

The project will help to answer research questions including:

• Are there biomarkers to predict disease progression?
• Can biomarkers highlight mechanistic differences between mild and severe disease?