Category: COVID-19
Rare Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases and COVID-19: Evolving Insights and Implications for Clinical and Public Health Practice
In this post, we explore how new research on rare genetic diseases is contributing to our understanding of COVID-19 occurrence and outcomes and discuss potential clinical and public health implications. Understanding the mechanisms involved in these inherited disorders may shed light on biological mechanisms and natural history of COVID-19. Primary Immunodeficiency and COVID-19 Primary immunodeficiency (PI)—often Read More >
Posted on byPrecision Health Innovations in the Pandemic Era
Two recent articles, one in Nature Medicine and another in Nature Biotechnology, highlight areas of health innovation that have been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This blog post focuses on two precision health applications of technology—(1) genomics and (2) wearable devices and smartphone apps—that are likely to have a lasting impact beyond the pandemic. Increased Read More >
Posted on byCan’t Stop, Won’t Stop: The Resiliency of Newborn Screening Programs during the COVID-19 Pandemic
A recent article identified the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the newborn screening system and highlighted the importance of collaboration and technical assistance to ensure ongoing operations of this essential public health service. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic stressed, disrupted, and fundamentally changed the public health system in the United States. While much of the Read More >
Posted on byHost Genomics and COVID-19: Two Years Later
Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, we explored the rationale for host genomic studies to our understanding of COVID-19 occurrence and outcomes. Two years into the pandemic, we are taking another look. Many academic research groups and consortia—such as the COVID-19 Host Genetics Initiative (COVID-19 HGI) and COVID Human Genetic Effort—have launched worldwide open-science collaborations, featuring Read More >
Posted on byThe Contributions of Host Genomics Research to the COVID-19 Response: It’s Not Just About Genes!
A recent large collaborative host genomics study provides valuable insight into the interplay of biology and epidemiology on COVID-19. The study was based on a meta-analysis of nearly 50,000 patients from 46 studies spanning 19 countries. The study found 13 loci (specific locations on various chromosomes) associated with COVID-19 susceptibility or severity through genome wide Read More >
Posted on byTracking the Scientific Literature on SARS-CoV-2 Variants Using the COVID-19 Genomics and Precision Health Knowledge Base
The first reports of SARS-CoV-2, the highly infectious virus causing COVID-19, swept across the globe in December 2019, prompting a burst of scientific activity. The rate of research and discovery intensified as the pandemic grew, resulting in a flood of publications in journals and on preprint servers around the world. More recently, SARS-CoV-2 variants have Read More >
Posted on by 1 CommentMendelian Randomization: A Precision Public Health Tool for the COVID-19 Response
In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when little was known about the natural history of the disease, predicting the course of the pandemic was of premier importance for treating sick patients and redoubling efforts to protect those at highest risk of adverse outcomes. To address this need, investigators used a study design that Read More >
Posted on byStool-based Colorectal Cancer Screening in the COVID-19 Era
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to exact a devastating public health toll and in many indirect ways. While people work from home and avoid social contact, many may also be skipping important preventive care. Findings released in May of 2020 indicated a drop of between 86% and 94% in preventive cancer screenings in 2020 compared with Read More >
Posted on byHost Genomics and COVID-19: One Year Later
Unprecedented global research collaborations in human genomics provide a model for research in response to a pandemic. Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, we discussed the role of research on human genetics in the investigation of SARS-CoV-2 infection and outcomes. We now know more about the wide variation in host response, from asymptomatic infection to Read More >
Posted on byApplications of Digital Tools for Precision Public Health in the COVID-19 Era: Where Are We?
Two recent systematic scoping reviews explore the use and limitations of digital tools in public health surveillance and their applications to the pandemic response Digital health tools offer increasing potential for substantial benefits to medicine and public health. In clinical practice, digital applications include personal wearable devices, devices within the body, and sensors that can Read More >
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