AFRL seeks volunteers for antibody research
Goal is to increase DOD testing, get ahead of spread of COVID-19.
The Air Force Research Laboratory is seeking healthy volunteers from the Dayton area for a COVID-19 antibodies research study.
The goal is a lofty one: To increase testing to 250,000 Department of Defense personnel a day, up fromabout 50,000 a week currently.
The bottom line is getting ahead of the spread of COVID19, said Dr. Corey Hart, senior physiologist and a principal investigator at the 711th Human Performance Wing, which like AFRL is based atWright-Patterson Air Force Base.
“It is ambitious, but it is necessary,” Hart said.
The research arm of the Air Force says it will use the anonymous test results to determineif thereareCOVID19-related antibodies present in test participants who havebeenfreeofaconfifirmed exposure to the novel coronavirus.
Participantswill be asked to complete a health assessmentanddemographicquestionnaire, submit a blood sample in person or with a take-homekit — or schedule an in-person appointment with an experienced AFRL employee to provide a saliva sample at an offffffffffff-base facility.
An AFRL spokesman said the study was previously opento basepersonnel only, but not enough volunteers have participated as of yet, so the study is now open to qualifified Dayton-area residents overall.
Early COVID-19 tests focused on people who exhibited symptoms or who thought they had been exposed to someone with symptoms. And we’re still prettymuch there, Hart said.
But Hart and his fellow researchers want to perfect testing of those who are not showing symptoms, adoptinga“surveillanceapproach” to combating the disease.
“That’s really the key to what we’re doing.” he said.
“Evenwhenavaccinedoes come out, we’re not going to be able to give it to everybodyrightaway,” Hartnoted, going on to stress that the Air Force is not involved in any kind of vaccine development.
“If we can test more people more frequently, then we can catch those who are or have been asymptomatic,” Hart said. The presence of antibodies— proteins that help a body’s immune system kick in — can give researchers clues towho has beeninfectedwithCOVID- 19, even if they haven’t exhibited symptoms.
“The antibody test allows us to see how widespread the disease is,” Hart said.
Beavercreek defense contractor UES is working with the Air Force on the test.
“UES and our extended research team are incredibly proud to be supporting this research and the Air Force’s effffffffffffort to better understand COVID-19 antibodies and related implications,” said Dr. Stephaney Shanks, integrative health and performance sciences director at UES.