Search Tag: SARS-CoV-2
Newly-funded-project-aims-to-monitor-impact-of-covid-19-variants
2022 04 Oct
A three-year project, known as END-VOC, will analyse data from 28 established cohort studies in 23 countries, collaborating with 19 partners across the world. This large-scale study, funded by the European Commission, and led by UCL, aims to collect this data to better detect and improve understanding of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants. The purpose is...Read more
Pivoting-to-manage-a-pandemic-flexibility-and-creativity-in-teams
2022 13 Sep
The COVID-19 pandemic presented a frequently changing situation for health systems, and successful management required a flexible and creative approach within a team. Key Points Lessons from Stanley McChrystal’s “Team of Teams” were very helpful in adapting to COVID-19 as a health system. Flexibility was a key tenet in our...Read more
New-vaxzevria-data-further-support-its-use-as-third-dose-booster
2022 13 Jan
New data from ongoing trial showed increased antibody response against Beta, Delta, Alpha and Gamma variants following third dose booster with Vaxzevria Additional analysis showed increased antibody response to Omicron after a third dose Positive results from a preliminary analysis of an ongoing safety and immunogenicity trial...Read more
Precision-medicine-and-covid-19
2021 18 May
Precision medicine has been an important goal in healthcare. Researchers have been focused on generating new disease subclassifications to maximise individualised treatment options. There have been many phenotypes, endotypes, and subtypes so that patients who demonstrate specific symptoms and fall into a specific subtype or phenotype can be treated...Read more
Thermo-fisher-scientific-to-acquire-point-of-care-molecular-diagnostics-provider-mesa-biotech
2021 19 Jan
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc . (NYSE: TMO), the world leader in serving science, today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Mesa Biotech, Inc., a privately held molecular diagnostic company, for approximately $450 million in cash. Under the terms of the agreement, Thermo Fisher will pay up to an additional $100 million...Read more
Molecular-tests-are-pivotal-in-combating-the-covid-19-pandemic
2020 28 Oct
The central laboratory of the Niels-Stensen-Kliniken group in Osnabrück wasted no time in setting up its own test facilities for the molecular detection of SARS-CoV-2. We spoke with Michael Erren, MD, Head of the Institute for Laboratory Medicine about his strategy and the importance of diagnostic molecular testing in fighting the pandemic....Read more
J-js-vaccine-trial-paused
2020 13 Oct
Johnson & Johnson has announced temporarily pausing the COVID-19 vaccine candidate trials due to an unexplained illness in a study participant. You might also like: Rushing COVID-19 Vaccine Development: Is It Justified? As reported by STAT News, the company has informed external researchers through a document that a “passing...Read more
Fda-amends-emergency-use-authorization-for-hologics-aptima-sars-cov-2-assay
2020 06 Oct
Hologic, Inc. announced today that its Aptima® SARS-CoV-2 assay, which initially received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in May, is now authorized for testing of individuals without symptoms or other reasons to suspect COVID-19 infection. This authorization follows an announcement last week...Read more
How-exposure-to-sars-cov-2-varies-across-hospital-settings
2020 24 Sep
New research from the UK has detected SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion among asymptomatic healthcare workers. Moreover, researchers were able to identify variation in the occupational risk of exposure to the pathogen – which causes COVID-19 – between hospital departments. You might also like: COVID-19: Risk Factors for Healthcare Workers...Read more
Siemens-healthineers-collaboration-with-cdc-to-standardize-sars-cov-2-assays
2020 15 Sep
The collaboration will standardize SARS-CoV-2 assays by defining concentrations of antibodies to specific viral proteins to confer neutralization that could one day be extrapolated to thresholds considered sufficient to confer immunity. Standardization across manufacturers is also expected to improve patient care by enabling long-term antibody level...Read more
Siemens-healthineers-collaboration-with-cdc-to-standardize-sars-cov-2-assays-1
2020 15 Sep
The collaboration will standardize SARS-CoV-2 assays by defining concentrations of antibodies to specific viral proteins to confer neutralization that could one day be extrapolated to thresholds considered sufficient to confer immunity. Standardization across manufacturers is also expected to improve patient care by enabling long-term antibody level...Read more
Hologic-launches-validated-pooling-protocol-for-covid-19-testing
2020 11 Aug
In Time of Extraordinary Need, New Protocol Expected to Help Laboratories Deliver Greater Quantities of Highly Accurate Molecular Test Results and Reduce Turnaround Times Hologic, Inc. announced today that it has validated use of its Aptima® and Panther Fusion® molecular diagnostic COVID-19 assays with pooled patient samples and completed...Read more
New-sample-pooling-method-for-covid-19-testing
2020 06 Aug
Widespread testing for COVID-19 derives important epidemiological data that can inform strategies on disease monitoring and control. However, shortages of test kits and bottlenecks in processing of results prevent many countries from implementing mass testing. This leaves many patients (especially those not showing symptoms) untested, increasing...Read more
Ecr2020-covid-19-lessons-and-questions
2020 16 Jul
During one of the plenary lectures, "COVID-19: Lessons and Questions from a Pandemic" at the #ECR2020 Virtual Congress, Dr. Marie-Pierre Revel, Professor of Radiology and Head of Cardiothoracic imaging at Hôpital Cochin in Paris said that COVID-19 was the greatest health threat that humanity has had to face since the Spanish flu. COVID-19 has...Read more
Witty-to-help-who-with-covid-19-vaccine-development
2020 20 Apr
Sir Andrew Witty, president of UnitedHealth Group and CEO of Optum and f ormer GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) chief executive , has taken a leave of absence from his current job to join the World Health Organization (WHO) in the agency’s efforts to develop a COVID-19 vaccine. You may also like: Where Does COVID-19 Vaccine Development Stand?...Read more
Covid-19-experience-of-italian-gps
2020 16 Apr
A new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine assesses challenges faced by general practitioners (GPs) in the prevention and management of COVID-19 in Lombardy, Italy. You may also like : COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons from Italy As of 8 April, Italy was the most COVID-19-affected country in Europe. Of 135 000...Read more
Covid-19-in-search-for-answers-to-major-questions
2020 16 Apr
Researchers use mathematical modelling to predict the persistence of SARS-CoV-2 in the human population after its initial pandemic stage and compute a more realistic picture of the coronavirus infection rate . You may also like : Where Does COVID-19 Vaccine Development Stand? Five-Year Projection One study (...Read more
Where-does-covid-19-vaccine-development-stand
2020 11 Apr
Researchers around the world are testing a wide range of COVID-19 vaccine candidates, with over a hundred vaccines in development, and almost 600 clinical trials either ongoing or completed. You may also like : Teaming and Funding Opportunities for COVID-19 Researchers The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI),...Read more
Warnings-about-potential-treatments-for-covid-19
2020 09 Apr
An early-released review warns about potentially serious adverse events for chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin when used to treat and prevent COVID-19 . It comes only days after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had removed guidelines for using hydroxychloroquine as a potential treatment. ...Read more
Covid-19-pandemic-lessons-from-italy
2020 08 Apr
Italy was hit hard by COVID-19. As of April 1, 2020, the country has 110574 documented cases and 13155 documented deaths related to the coronavirus. In order for other countries to learn from Italy, it is important to understand why death rates were so high in the first place and to identify the contributing factors. First, there are demographic...Read more
Where-are-the-most-effective-anti-covid-19-strategies
2020 27 Mar
The majority of countries have introduced at least some nation-wide measures aimed at containing the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic. The measures include stopping/limiting international and domestic movement, closing educational facilities, banning public gatherings or announcing quarantine, to name a few. You may...Read more
Leoss-eu-covid-19-case-registry
2020 22 Mar
The German Society of Infectious Diseases ( DGI ) has initiated the establishment of a European case registry to collect clinical data of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. You may also like: Germany Joins ‘1+ Million Genomes’ Initiative The new registry, Lean European Open Survey for SARS-CoV-2 Infected Patients...Read more