3rd December 2021 Featured by Sky News https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-first-encounter-with-virus-shapes-bodys-future-immune-response-to-new-infections-research-shows-12485400
3rd December 2021 Our results featured by the Evening Standard https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/delta-imperial-college-london-omicron-nhs-south-africa-b969893.html
3rd December 2021 The new publication discussed by the news section of Imperial College Website https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/232396/immune-imprinting-causes-varied-patterns-protection/
2nd December 2021 Article published on Science https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abm0811
30th November 2021 Article on The Times: “The group of London-based experts are at the forefront of research into novel ways to combat coronavirus mutations” https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/could-a-common-cold-help-scientists-in-the-war-on-covid-variants-90tm9vcg3
30th November 2021 Our study discussed at Times Radio https://www.thetimes.co.uk/radio/show/20211130-4760/2021-11-30
10th November 2021 article on The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/10/people-exposed-to-covid-yet-not-falling-ill-may-have-immune-memory-finds-study
10th November 2021: Published on Nature the study: Pre-existing polymerase-specific T cells expand in abortive seronegative SARS-CoV-2.
This study highlights that RTC-specific T-cells are targets for vaccines against endemic and emerging Coronaviridae.
12th October 2021: Published online on Cell Host&Microbe the research: Prior infection with SARS-CoV-2 boosts and broadens Ad26.COV2.S immunogenicity in a variant-dependent manner.
In this study, we show a dramatic effect of recent or distant infection on the magnitude and breadth of neutralizing responses. Ad26.COV2.S vaccination alone drives continued maturation of B cell responses, conferring enhanced neutralization of variants and durability. This study suggests that an infection “prime” boosts Ad26.COV2.S immunogenicity and, in areas of high seroprevalence, could positively impact the effectiveness of this single-dose vaccine. Most significantly, we show that breadth of neutralization after vaccination is dictated by the infecting variant, with important implications for adapted vaccines based on VOCs.
16th July 2021 Our results discussed by the Washington post https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/07/16/four-pinocchios-ron-johnsons-campaign-vaccine-misinformation/
6th July 2021: Published on The Lancet Microbiobe a nested, case-control diagnostic accuracy study on blood transcriptional biomarkers of acute viral infection for detection of pre-symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection.
The findings of this study support further urgent evaluation and development of blood IFI27 transcripts as a biomarker for early phase SARS-CoV-2 infection for screening individuals at high risk of infection, such as contacts of index cases, to facilitate early case isolation and early use of antiviral treatments as they emerge.
25th June 2021: Published on Science the research Prior SARS-CoV-2 infection rescues B and T cell responses to variants after first vaccine dose
The results of this study highlight that is important to monitor over time the durability of immunity to natural infection and after vaccination as well as sustained vaccine efficacy and vaccine escape.
14th May 2021: Published on the European Heart Journal the research: Patterns of myocardial injury in recovered troponin-positive COVID-19 patients assessed by cardiovascular magnetic resonance
The results of this study show that during convalescence after severe COVID-19 infection with troponin elevation, myocarditis-like injury can be encountered, with limited extent and minimal functional consequence. In a proportion of patients, there is evidence of possible ongoing localized inflammation.
8th May 2021: we were featured by Forbes https://www.forbes.com/sites/joshuacohen/2021/05/08/covid-19-herd-immunity-looks-like-a-mirage-but-is-worth-pursuing/?sh=36e2b8c1381f
8th May 2021: published online a Prospective Case-Control Study of Cardiovascular Abnormalities 6 Months Following Mild COVID-19 in Healthcare Workers.
In this study was highlighted that Cardiovascular abnormalities are no more common in seropositive versus seronegative otherwise healthy, workforce representative individuals 6 months post–mild severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 infection.
5h May 2021 Dr Fauci features our study https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rf7OSfeTweU&t=818s
May 3rd 2021, we were featured on Medscape https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/950276?src=
15th April 2021: Published the study on Longitudinal assessment of symptoms and risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in healthcare workers across 5 hospitals to understand ethnic differences in infection risk.
From this study emerges that in the UK first wave, Black ethnicity (but not other ethnicities) more than doubled HCWs likelihood of seropositivity, independent of age, sex, measured socio-economic factors and hospital role.
2nd March 2021: Published on EBioMEdicine (Lancet) the study: Time series analysis and mechanistic modelling of heterogeneity and sero-reversion in antibody responses to mild SARS‑CoV-2 infection.
Mild SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with heterogeneous serological responses in Euroimmun anti-S1 and Roche anti-NP assays. Anti-S1 responses showed faster rates of clearance, more rapid transition from high to low level production rate and greater reduction in production rate after this transition. In mild infection, anti-S1 serology alone may underestimate incident infections. The mechanisms that underpin faster clearance and lower rates of sustained anti-S1 production may impact on the longevity of humoral immunity.
25th February 2021: published online on The Lancet the research: Antibody response to first BNT162b2 dose in previously SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals
In this letter is shown how a second booster vaccine might not be necessary after prior covid
18th December 2020: Published on Science Immunology the research: Discordant neutralizing antibody and T cell responses in asymptomatic and mild SARS-CoV-2 infection
The findings of this study highlight that the majority of individuals with mild or asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection carry nAb complemented by multispecific T cell responses at 16-18 weeks after mild or asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection.
31st October 2020: Published online the reply on Asymptomatic health-care worker screening during the COVID-19 pandemic.
15 September 2020: Published on Circulation the research letter COVID-19: Myocardial injury in survivors.
Myocardial injury is common in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and not exclusive to those with acute coronary syndromes or pulmonary emboli. In this single-center, single–time point convalescent study, myocardial injury was associated with cardiac abnormalities detected by CMR where troponin elevation is unexplained even when cardiac function is normal.
13th August 2020: Published on PLOS One the results on “Clinical academic research in the time of Corona: A simulation study in England and a call for action”
The aims were to understand the pandemic research process and describe early lessons and in particular: – model potential impact of the pandemic on clinical academic capacity in England relating to COVID-19; and – develop evidence-based recommendations to inform the optimal scientific response to COVID-19.
28th July 2020: Published the study design of the Healthcare Workers Bioresource.
Study outline and baseline characteristics of a prospective healthcare worker cohort to study immune protection and pathogenesis in COVID-19
10th May 2020: Hospitals may be safer than you might think
Many of the fellows working on the project are funded by the BHF. We are grateful for their support. See their feature on the study: Samples from healthcare workers could reveal those most at risk from coronavirus.
They also include an interesting piece on our early results: New coronavirus study finds hospitals are safer places than you might think
8th May: First publication
The Lancet (IF 51.9) published some early results from the study today: COVID-19: PCR screening of asymptomatic health-care workers at London hospital
7th May: More media coverage
ITV covered the study and interviewed Prof James Moon (chief investigator). You can read it here: Study begins into how coronavirus spreads and why some people are more affected than others
6th May: TV coverage
Sky News featured the study this morning, including an interview with Dr Tom Treibel, Principal Investigator at Barts.
4th May: Recruiting at the Royal Free
Recruitment has now started today at the Royal Free.
1st May: 500 subjects recruited
Today we have reached another milestone: 500 subjects have now been recruited at Barts and The London Nightingale.
17th April: we are growing
Following the success at Barts, two sister studies are being set up overseas – one in Sydney and the other in Cape Town.
14th April: Start of week 4 and a major contribution
We are now on week 4 of the study at Barts and are following up our cohort of 400 healthcare workers.
We are extremely grateful to everyone who has contributed to our justgiving campaign and we have had a major boost with significant contribution from Goldman Sachs.
10th April: Extending to NHS Nightingale
We aim to extend the study to NHS Nightingale on Thursday. 600 more staff to recruit and lots more work to do!
9th April: Coverage
Our work is gaining interest. We have been featured in the BMJ and Nursing Times this week (links will open a new windows).
Dr Charlotte Manisty appeared on the BMJ podcast – you can listen to it here
6th April: Channel 4
We were featured on the Channel 4 News. You can see James Moon explain the importance of the study in the video below.
31st March: First mission accomplished
We have recruited 400 subject to the study at St Bartholomew’s Hospital. This is a fantastic achievement but there is plenty of hard work left to do with weekly collection of samples for another 3 months.
23rd March: And we’re off…
We started recruiting our first subjects today at St Bartholomew’s Hospital. The pace at which this virus is spreading means that we have had to establish the study quickly.
20th March: all site approvals
17th March: national ethics approval
15th March: the protocol was written
13th March: we had the idea