Carolinaʼs researchers are on the frontline of COVID-19 research. They are working within teams on campus and partners from around the world. Recognizing our contributions toward mitigating the pandemic, Microsoft Analytics recently ranked UNC-CH as the number-one university in the U.S. researching coronavirus.
Some examples of the work ongoing at Carolina include Melissa Miller and Aravinda de Silvaʼs development of high-quality, rapid COVID-19 tests that are FDA approved. UNC investigators are also establishing a virus surveillance system to monitor the genetic evolution of viruses circulating in the human population. This will allow for adjustments to tests as the virus potentially mutates, will provide ongoing information about the mutation that is prevalent in North Carolina, and will help track the virus spread. Dirk Dittmer, for example, has sequenced 140 SARS-CoV-2 virus genomes isolated from patients, some of which have mutations that do alter viral proteins. He is tracking the strains circulating in North Carolina to ensure our diagnostic tests are accurate and to provide information for future vaccine-based approaches.
Rachel Noble of UNCʼs Institute of Marine Sciences is using a new testing tool for assessment of the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater, septic systems, and package treatment systems. This work is helping to manage the contamination risk associated with sewage spills and flooding events, for example, with hurricanes.
Ralph Baric of the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health is collaborating with Richard Boucher of the Marsico Lung Institute and William Fisher of the School of Medicine to identify target cells of the respiratory system that initiate and amplify infection and then bring treatments into clinical trials. Ralph is also working with Jenny Ting on vaccines for SARS-CoV-2.
Alexander Tropsha and his colleagues in the Eshelman School of Pharmacy are leading a computational approach on drug discovery for the SARS-CoV-2 virus. These modeling efforts will collapse the time-to-discovery window to identify existing approved medicines.
As a pathway to FDA approved treatment, the School of Medicine has initiated clinical trials to treat COVID-19 patients at UNC Hospitals. One important trial that is ongoing is the convalescent plasma trial being led by Luther Bartelt and David Margolis. Using antibodies from patients who have recovered from COVID-19, they are treating patients currently in the ICU and the hospital. Several patients have fully recovered and have been subsequently discharged from the hospital. More previously infected individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 are being sought to donate their blood to continue this trial and save the lives of fellow North Carolinians.
Projects from the College of Arts & Sciences include Kia Caldwellʼs work on how the health care systems of the U.S. and Brazil have responded to the pandemic and the countriesʼ challenges in providing services to African American and Afro-Brazilian communities. Benjamin Meier is focusing on the intersection of international law, public policy, and global health, examining global health policy during a pandemic. Michael Emch specializes in disease ecology, more specifically how human interaction and environment impact the spread of viruses like SARS-CoV-2. Jonathan Williams is parsing through data regarding how broadband usage patterns between different demographics have shifted since the pandemic. He wants to understand how the online shifts in work and education have impacted income and education inequality.
Because of Carolinaʼs outstanding research on COVID-19, the State of North Carolina recently awarded UNC $29 million through the North Carolina Policy Collaboratory in four areas of coronavirus work:
- rapid development of neutralizing antibodies for SARS-CoV-2,
- safe and effective vaccine to the public,
- community testing initiatives, and
- other research activities related to monitoring, assessing, and addressing the public health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research is working with the various schools and the College of Arts & Sciences to identify projects in these four areas to recommend to the North Carolina Policy Collaboratory for funding consideration.
These are just a few examples of the many Carolina COVID-19-related research projects that span areas from basic science to bedside to community recovery. I will continue to report on the advances in COVID-19 research at Carolina in future posts.