Clinical Characterisation Protocol for Severe Emerging Infection
Overview
Principal Investigator: Dr Joanna Garstang
Project Type: Non-commercial portfolio
Project site status: Open
Project site date open to recruitment: 27/04/2020
Project site planned recruitment end date: 28/07/2027
Summary:
Infectious disease is the single biggest cause of death worldwide. New infectious agents, such as the SARS, MERS and other novel coronavirus, novel influenza viruses, viruses causing viral haemorrhagic fever (e.g. Ebola), and viruses that affect the central nervous system (CNS) such as TBEV require investigation to understand pathogen biology and pathogenesis in the host. Even for known infections, resistance to antimicrobial therapies is widespread, and treatments to control potentially deleterious host responses are lacking. In order to develop a mechanistic understanding of disease processes, such that risk factors for severe illness can be identified and treatments can be developed, it is necessary to understand pathogen characteristics associated with virulence, the replication dynamics and in-host evolution of the pathogen, the dynamics of the host response, the pharmacology of antimicrobial or host-directed therapies, the transmission dynamics, and factors underlying individual susceptibility. The work proposed here may require sampling that will not immediately benefit the participants. It may also require analysis of the host genome, which may reveal other information about disease susceptibility or other aspects of health status. This study, while not a study of a medicine, may involve additional procedures (some minimally invasive), the retention of genetic material, collection of personal data and additional follow up. The ISARIC consortium is keen that this protocol serve as a generic template for adoption of this study in other countries and similar studies in the future. ISARIC also intend that this protocol and supporting documents can be used to support or run alongside future intervention studies. For these reasons we aim to fulfil the standards of consent required by Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations 2004 and NHS NPSA NRES Guidance for Researchers & Reviewers (May 2009). This protocol as now amended is designed to enrol patients with proven infection by Influenza A/H5N1, A/H7N9, MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, viral haemorrhagic fever, TBEV, any infection on the PHE/DHSC high consequence infection list (see PHE website), and any other pathogen of public health interest as yet unspecified.