COVID-19 Immunity - National Core Studies (IMM-NCS)

The 'NCSi4P' programme will determine how assessment and optimisation of immune function can accelerate control of the Covid-19 pandemic. NCSi4P will focus on the role of immunity in Prediction of outcome, Protection against infection and Prevention of re-infection. These will provide a legacy for future Preparation. Prediction research will define how immunogenetics and immune function, including memory to other coronaviruses, determines risk from SARS-CoV-2 infection. Comparisons will be made between ethnic groups and in patients with a cancer diagnosis to determine how optimisation of immune function may be supported. In Protection studies we will work with surveillance teams to study people with asymptomatic infection. The aim is to understand how the immune system can control infection and to contrast this with findings in severe disease. The potential role of the immune system in 'long-covid' syndromes will be studied. Prevention will determine how immune memory after infection is predictive of individualised risk of potential re-infection. The findings will be compared to data emerging from vaccine studies in order to guide optimal regimens. This will be complemented with studies to optimize laboratory assays of cellular immune function. The integration of these immune studies will support the UK in Preparation for future pandemics.