BCG vaccination to minimise COVID-19 disease severity and duration
- Funded by Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (ZonMW)
- Total publications:0 publications
Grant number: 1.043E+13
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Key facts
Disease
COVID-19Start & end year
20202022Known Financial Commitments (USD)
$548,908.91Funder
Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (ZonMW)Principal Investigator
Professor JHHM van de WijgertResearch Location
NetherlandsLead Research Institution
University Medical Center UtrechtResearch Priority Alignment
N/A
Research Category
Vaccines research, development and implementationResearch Subcategory
Pre-clinical studiesSpecial Interest Tags
N/AStudy Type
ClinicalClinical Trial Details
UnspecifiedBroad Policy Alignment
PendingAge Group
UnspecifiedVulnerable Population
UnspecifiedOccupations of Interest
Unspecified
Abstract
Project description Mycobacterium bovis is the bacteria that causes tuberculosis in cows. The BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin) vaccine consists of attenuated bacteria of this strain. Almost 100 years ago it was discovered that BCG protects against human tuberculosis. In recent years it has been shown that BCG also protects against other infections by activating the immune system in a broad sense. BCG has the potential to protect against COVID-19. Research This study investigates whether BCG can reduce the incidence, severity and / or duration of COVID-19. The impact of BCG on the development and lifespan of COVID-19 antibodies, the immune system in a broader sense and the microbiome composition of the airways is also investigated. Expected outcomes Should BCG be effective, it could be used to protect risk groups until COVID-19-specific vaccines become available. In that case, BCG could also be used in future epidemics due to new pathogens.