Long-term effects
Study to map regional consequences of virus exposure
GEELONG researchers are embarking on a landmark study to map the long-term damage caused by COVID-19 on people living in regional communities.
Barwon Health is teaming up with Deakin University to investigate the lasting biological, physiological and psychological effects of the virus.
The project is one of seven backed under a $5.5 million COVID-19 Research Fund to be announced Monday by the state government.
Barwon Health infectious diseases director Eugene Athan, who is leading the study, described it as “quite a large” project involving multidisciplinary sciences coming together.
“The basic premise of the study is to contact people who have recovered from COVID infection, of which there are at least 100 to 150 in our region,” he said.
“If they consent … we collect basic information about immunity, the body’s response to the disease and if there are any long-term effects to the heart, lungs and mental state.”
The year-long project will involve two local control groups.
Professor Athan said the demographic mix within the Geelong region meant the study could provide valuable information about the longterm effects of the virus around the nation.
Other Victorian COVID-19 research projects to receive state government backing include:
A STUDY led by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, which is growing human organs and then infecting them in a bid to find targeted treatments to combat the virus; THE Burnett Institute assessing a patient’s COVID-19 immunity by measuring neutralising antibodies, in order to develop new tools;
A UNIVERSITY of Melbourne study to define immunity to COVID-19 to boost vaccine development;
THE examination of the longterm effects of COVID-19 on workers and workplaces, through Alfred Health research focusing on healthcare and aged care; and,
A STUDY by Eastern Health of the pandemic’s effects on frontline healthcare staff and their families; while Bendigo Health will focus on the impact on rural and regional healthcare workers.
Victoria’s 12 independent medical research institutes employ more than 4800 people and more than 30,000 work in the state’s wider medical and research industry.
Innovation Minister Jaala Pulford said the government was backing Victoria’s researchers to better understand, prevent and treat coronavirus.
“Victoria is a standard bearer in medical research and we’re putting this expertise to work in the global fight against this deadly virus,” she said.
The Victorian Medical Research Acceleration Fund is providing $3 million to fund 12 projects across a range of research fields, including a team at RMIT that is exploring a new way to manage viral infections, allowing for the repurposing of existing drugs.