A new University of Hawaii study is recruiting people who tested positive for the novel coronavirus within 60 days of diagnosis to donate weekly blood samples up to six times.
Researchers say the data they collect will aid in designing strategies to mitigate the severity and mortality of COVID-19, particularly among those more vulnerable, according to a UH news release.
The goal of the study is to “understand the natural progression of antibodies that your body produces to fight COVID-19, so the information can help others who get infected in the future,” said principal investigator Ruben Juarez, associate professor in the College of Social Sciences economics department and a research fellow in the UH Economic Research Organization.
He said as Hawaii reopens, he expects to see a greater strain on the health care system and “likely new cases with severe complications.”
“Beyond the known epidemiologic risk factors that indicate who may be at a higher risk for these complications, our research will allow us to improve on this prediction by incorporating information on individual immune response, where even seemingly healthy individuals may struggle to handle the virus and may need to be hospitalized if this response is not robust enough,” Juarez said. “Study results may inform policy decisions that are more targeted at the individual level to prevent the onset of these medical complications that would also tax the health care system.”
The study’s other principal investigator is Alika Maunakea, an associate professor in the John A. Burns School of Medicine Department of Anatomy, Biochemistry &Physiology and the Institute for Biogenesis Research.
“Another goal that we hope to achieve with this study is an enhanced understanding of the biological and socioecological interactions that enable individuals and communities to be more resilient against COVID-19,” Maunakea said.
While Native Hawaiians make up 21% of the state’s population, recently disaggregated data from the state Department of Health indicate 13% of all COVID-19 cases are among Native Hawaiians. This contrasts with Pacific Islanders who account for 14% of the cases while only comprising 4% of the population. Likewise, Filipinos account for 21% of the cases while comprising 16% of the population.
“Although there are certainly disparities in the infection rate of COVID-19 in the state with some populations disproportionately affected, this data may also indicate potential resilience within the Native Hawaiian community,” Maunakea said.
“By recruiting a diverse cohort of individuals recovering from COVID-19, we will be able to understand the sociobiological mechanisms underlying this resilience, and learn from our communities how best to mitigate this crisis while averting severe health outcomes among our most vulnerable.”
For more information about the study or to enroll if recovering from COVID-19, contact the study coordinator by phone/text at 808-989-2043 or email covid19hi@gmail.com.
The study is supported in part by the Hawaii Resilience Fund at the Hawaii Community Foundation.