COVID-19 experts: Hamsters, clinical trials, MLB season

Numerous experts from the University of Wisconsin–Madison are available to discuss the impact of COVID-19 and provide tips and information to help people navigate the challenges to their daily lives.

More experts can be found on the Experts page and in these tipsheets from April 28, April 14, April 3, March 27, March 23, March 17 and March 12.

HAMSTERS DEVELOP PROTECTIVE IMMUNITY TO COVID-19

In an animal model for COVID-19 that shares important features of human disease, scientists at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, the University of Tokyo and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai show that prior infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus provides protection against reinfection, and treatment with convalescent serum limits virus replication in their lungs.

Syrian hamsters, commonly found as pets, have served critical roles in understanding human infectious diseases for decades. The new study, led by Yoshihiro Kawaoka and published recently in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, demonstrates they are also a useful small animal model for researchers trying to understand SARS-CoV-2 and in evaluating vaccines, treatments and drugs against the disease it causes. Read more.

Contact: Yoshihiro Kawaoka, yoshihiro.kawaoka@wisc.edu and Peter Halfmann, peter.halfmann@wisc.edu

UW-MADISON AND UW HEALTH LAUNCH A NUMBER OF COVID-19 CLINIC TRIALS

Through pharmaceutical industry collaborations, partnerships with other academic and medical institutions, and its own clinical trial expertise, SMPH and its companion academic health system, UW Health, has in three months launched several clinical trials aimed at developing treatments for COVID-19 and better understanding the disease.

Among the latest clinical trials is a study conducted in partnership with the pharmaceutical company Novartis examining the potential for an existing drug called ruxolitinib to treat a serious and often deadly complication of a COVID-19 infection called cytokine storm. Locally, the study is being led by David Andes, professor of medicine in the infectious disease division at SMPH. Read the full article here.

Contact: Andrew Hellpap, ahellpap@uwhealth.org

UW-MADISON COVID-19 EXPERTS AVAILABLE

VIDEO INTERVIEW: STAYING SAFE

In this Badger Talks video, Dr. Nasia Safdar, the medical director of infection control and prevention at UW Hospital and Clinics, discusses how people can try to stay safe when they venture out in public.

Contact: EKumlien@uwhealth.org

MLB ANNOUNCES 2020 SEASON

Major League Baseball has announced a 2020 season which calls for players to report for training on July 1. Laura Albert, an expert on modeling and analysis of complex systems like healthcare, airline safety and emergency services, says the return could be dangerous or successful depending how the process of resuming is managed. Albert can discuss the risk-management and contingency planning needed for sports to stage a safe comeback.

Contact: laura@engr.wisc.edu

USING MODELING TO FORECAST TRENDS IN COVID-19

Oguzhan Alagoz, an expert in health care analytics, can discuss how using modeling can help control and predict trends in COVID-19.

Contact: ellenber@math.wisc.edu

COVID-19-RELATED CLINICAL TRIALS

David Andes, a professor of medicine in the infectious disease division of SMPH, is available to discuss his work on a study conducted in partnership with the pharmaceutical company Novartis examining the potential for an existing drug called ruxolitinib to treat a serious and often deadly complication of a COVID-19 infection called cytokine storm.

Elizabeth Nugent, director of clinical trials development and accreditation/chief clinical research officer at SMPH, is available to discuss the ruxolitinib study, and the full roster of COVID-19-related studies currently underway at SMPH, including investigations into “Covid toes” and convalescent plasma. Read more about clinical trials here. 

Contact: dra@medicine.wisc.edu

Contact: enugent2@wisc.edu