Sherwood Forest Hospital trust to be part of ground-breaking new Covid-19 study

The study, announced by the health secretary Matt Hancock MP, will help experts better understand the virus’ varied effects on people and support the search for treatments.

Researchers from the University of Edinburgh’s GenOMICC project, will work together with Genomics England and more than 170 NHS hospitals including SFH, the study aims to sequence the genomes of 20,000 people who are severely ill with covid-19.

Already, 2000 patients have been recruited to the study.

The data collected by SFH and others will be compared to that from a further 15,000 covid-19 patients who experienced only mild symptoms.

This data will be collected from participants in the 100,000 Genomes Project and UK Biobank.This ground-breaking research may help explain why some patients with covid-19 experience a mild infection, others require intensive care and why for some it is sadly fatal

By discovering why some people are predisposed to developing life-threatening symptoms, the initiative will enable novel insights into the virus, as well as possible human factors that influence the effects of the disease, and whether a combination of both shape outcomes for NHS patients.

SHF has already recruited 23 patients for the study and is aiming to recruit many more over the coming weeks.

Chris Wigley, chief executive of Genomics England said: “NHS Trusts are absolutely vital to the national response to this terrible pandemic, so I am extremely glad that Sherwood Forest Hospitals has joined our efforts to gain new insights into how this virus affects us.”

Liz Gemmill, SFH research and innovation director added, “We’re really excited and proud to be participating and supporting the Genomicc study.

“This study plays a vital role in gaining new insights into how this virus affects us and our vision is to help find a cure.

“Please contact us on 01623 622515 (ext 3990) to find out how you can support this and your trust.”