COVID Immune

COVID immune draws upon four existing longitudinal LifeCourse population cohorts: VITALITY, MIS BAIR, HealthNuts and SchoolNuts.
Bringing these cohorts together creates a powerful and rich data resource spanning from ages 1 to 24 years. COVID Immune looks at pre-COVID immune phenotypes and biomarkers and whether they predict susceptibility to and severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection. This study also seeks to understand the clinical features, natural history and long term impacts of SARS-CoV-2 infection on immune phenotypes and other biomarkers; and the psychosocial impacts of SARS-CoV-2 and its management.

COVID-19 specific data collection occurred in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a one year follow-up being undertaken in 2021.

Study Summary
Study name COVID Immune: Predictors of infection and clinical severity with SARS-CoV-2 in extant longitudinal LifeCourse population cohorts of children/young adults and their household/family contacts
Study abbreviation COVID Immune
Current principal investigator/s David Burgner
Kirsten Perrett
Current project manager

Megan Mathers

Primary Institution/s Murdoch Children’s Research Institute - MCRI
Major funding source/s Rio Tinto
Department of Health and Human Services
Victor Chiodo Foundation
Morgan Stanley
Study focus

To investigate predictors of infection and clinical severity with SARS-CoV-2 in extant longitudinal LifeCourse population cohorts of children aged 1 to 24 years and their household

Sampling frame

Children/young adults aged 1 to 24 years from each of 4 established cohorts with existing pre-pandemic immune biospecimens (including PBMCs and/or plasma).
Children/young adult ages range from: 1 to 5 years of age (Vitality), 5 to 6 years of age (MIS BAIR), 10 to 14 years (HealthNuts) and 15 to 24 years (SchoolNuts).

Primary study type Consortium / Collaboration
Primary participant (at recruitment) Index child
Year commenced

2020

Is this study ongoing? Yes - the study is ongoing
Ongoing recruitment? No
Sample size (N)

1172 participants recruited from four pre-existing cohorts

Survey data available? Yes
Imaging data available? No
Linkage to administrative dataset/s? No, no consent to link to administrative dataset(s) obtained
Biosamples available? Yes
Are data available to others outside study team, with appropriate safeguards and structures in line with the cohort’s ethics and governance processes? Yes
Are there any costs associated with data/sample access for approved requests? There are usually no costs associated with access
Broadest type of participant consent available Unspecified consent (can be used for any future ethically approved research)
Study Contacts
Principal investigator/s David Burgner
Kirsten Perrett
Project manager

Megan Mathers

Study Contact

Ph: (03) 9936 6029
Email: covid.immune@mcri.edu.au
Address: Murdoch Children's Research Institute,
Royal Children’s Hospital
Flemington Road, Parkville
Victoria 3052 Australia