IDCRC Newsletter: October 2021

IDCRC trial confirms benefits of booster doses of different COVID-19 vaccines; IDCRC investigator presents to FDA VRBPAC

Did you contribute to the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) annual meeting?

The IDCRC would like to create a repository of materials presented during the IDSA annual meeting (September 29-October 3, 2021) by IDCRC investigators. Please send your presentations to snpasch@emory.edu for inclusion.

Publications

NOTE: Please include the following citation in any publications resulting from direct or indirect IDCRC support: 

"Supported by the Infectious Diseases Clinical Research Consortium through the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health, under award number UM1AI148684. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health."

View recent publications below:

• Efficacy of interferon beta-1a plus remdesivir compared with remdesivir alone in hospitalised adults with COVID-19: a double-bind, randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial
   
• Heterologous SARS-CoV-2 Booster Vaccinations – Preliminary Report
   
• Phase 3 Safety and Efficacy of AZD1222 (ChAdOx1 nCoV-19) Covid-19 Vaccine
   
• Low-dose mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccine generates durable memory enhanced by cross-reactive T cells
   
• Safety and Efficacy of Single-Dose Ad26.COV2.S Vaccine against Covid-19

Event

COVID Vaccine Boosters: Why, What, and When?

October 29 | noon - 2 p.m. | Virtual

Keynote speaker is IDCRC Leadership Group co-PI, Kathy Neuzil, MD, MPH, with panelists from the Emory VTEU including IDCRC leaders Carlos del Rio, MD and Walt Orenstein, MD. 

In The News

Subcutaneous Interferon Does Not Improve Outcomes for Hospitalized Adults with COVID-19

A clinical trial has found that treatment with the immunomodulator interferon beta-1a plus the antiviral remdesivir was not superior to treatment with remdesivir alone in hospitalized adults with COVID-19 pneumonia. In addition, in a subgroup of patients who required high-flow oxygen, investigators found that interferon beta-1a was associated with more adverse events and worse outcomes. These findings were recently published in the journal The Lancet Respiratory Medicine. 

Training

Mentee Profile: Maryrose Robles Laguio-Vila, MD, Infectious Diseases Physician; Medical Director of Antimicrobial Stewardship Program, Rochester General Hospital; Associate Program Director, Rochester General Hospital Internal Medicine Residency Program

Mentoring Lecture Archive

Regulatory and Essential Document Requirements for Site Implementation of IDCRC Clinical Research
Presenters: Natalie Hurst and Sandra Brindis, FHI 360

Call for Applications: Advanced Course of Vaccinology (ADVAC 2022) – Due November 15

ADVAC is a two-week training program for decision-makers, including academia, industry, governmental and non-governmental agencies. The course aims to facilitate critical decision-making in vaccinology by providing participants with a
comprehensive overview of the various aspects of vaccinology (immunology, vaccine development, clinical trials, regulatory processes, vaccine-specific issues including new vaccines, vaccination strategies and policies, program implementation, humanitarian emergencies, social, economic, political and ethical issues, financing, and communications). 

Funding

• Doris Duke Charitable Foundation: Clinical Scientist Development Award
  Due November 12
  The purpose of this FOA is to provide support to physician-scientists at the Assistant Professor rank to conduct an outstanding clinical research project with high significance and potential to improve human health; enable research time protection to ease the tension between research and clinical responsibilities; and facilitate development of strong mentorship relationships in a supportive institutional environment.
   
• Interventions for Stigma Reduction to Improve HIV/AIDS Prevention, Treatment and Care in Low- and Middle- Income Countries (R01 – Clinical Trial Optional) LOI Due November 19
  The purpose of this FOA is to develop and test interventions to reduce the impact of HIV-associated stigma on the prevention and treatment of HIV infection and/or AIDS, and on the quality of life of People Living with HIV and/or AIDS.
   
• Systems Biology for Infectious Diseases (U19 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) 
  Due January 14
  The purpose of the FOA is to support research that employs systems biology approaches to human pathogens. The approach will generate and integrate large datasets into models that guide in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies, with the goals of predicting disease severity, predicting responses to vaccines and therapeutics, and identifying candidate targets for interventions.
   
• Advancing Group A Streptococcus Vaccine Discovery (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
  Due February 18
  The purpose of this FOA is to support discovery and design of novel Group A Streptococcus (GAS) vaccine candidates and their advancement into preclinical evaluation for broad protection against GAS infections.

Job Postings

View details on current job openings:

• SLU Physician Scientist Hire in Infectious Disease-Internal Medicine ​
   
• Browse over 200 ID/HIV Medicine job postings: IDSA Career Center

IDCRC Studies

IDCRC Concept Quick Stats

NOTE:

• Protocols Transitioned to IDCRC for Protocol Implementation: 5
• Status: Protocol Dev/Pre-implementation: 4; Study in Process: 1
• Other studies in process (not from an IDCRC concept): 4

Communication Resources

NEW! IDCRC-branded headers are now available in the Communications Toolkit and in Sharepoint. New headers are also available for Coronavirus, Malaria/Tropical Diseases, Respiratory Infections, Enteric Infections, and STIs Expert Working Groups (EWG).

An archive of past IDCRC monthly newsletters is now posted on the IDCRC website.

Please submit IDCRC news to epthomp@emory.edu for inclusion in the monthly newsletter and IDCRC.org.