Scientists involved in a genetic research study on Covid-19 have made an urgent appeal to Londoners who have caught the virus to donate blood at special pop-up centers open across the capital.
From this Saturday (April 24), the city’s first temporary centers, including at the Barnet / Enfield border, will open their doors to volunteers.
The unique GenOMICC Covid-19 study analyzes the genes of people who have had the virus to find out why some did not have any symptoms while others became extremely ill.
The study is already contributing to the fight against Covid, with preliminary results making it possible to identify possible new treatments.
However, for the study to continue to progress, scientists urgently need to recruit 2,500 more people from all walks of life.
As well as asking for help from members of London’s Asian and Black communities, they also want more men to volunteer.
Credit: Genomics England
The Barnet center will be at the West Lodge Park Hotel at Cockfosters Road near Hadley Wood (EN4 0PY) on Saturdays only.
The visit will involve a blood sample from a person.
Anyone interested in participating, but unable to make it to the center on Saturday, can also arrange a home visit by a nurse. Registration details can be found at the bottom of the article.
Dr Kenneth Baillie, the study’s lead investigator, said: ‘We are calling on more volunteers from all walks of life – and in particular people from the Asian and Black communities of London – to come forward and help out. to register.
“We need to find people who have tested positive for Covid but have had mild symptoms or no symptoms and who have not required hospital treatment. affected and hospitalized. ”
Credit: Genomics England
Professor Sir Mark Caulfied, Chief Scientist at Genomics England, said: ‘The faster this research can be completed, the faster we can solve the Covid puzzle and protect vulnerable people.
“Genetic research on Covid-19 is now playing an increasingly important role in our fight against the virus, allowing us to identify new forms of the virus and to develop treatments.
“The results of the GenOMICC COVID-19 study will improve treatment, care and outcomes for those most at risk and reduce the number of deaths.”
The research project is open to anyone who has tested positive for Covid but has shown mild or no symptoms and who has not required hospital treatment. Volunteers can register online at https://covid.genomicc.org/
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Source: www.times-series.co.uk
This notice was published: 2021-04-21 14:25:49
