Understanding the impact of COVID on cancer patients

Technicians, admin staff, QA managers and various pieces of equipment in the Liverpool ECMC have been re-deployed to support the UK Clinical Characterisation protocol, part of ISARIC-4C (The International Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging Infection Consortium (ISARIC) Coronavirus Clinical Characterisation Consortium is a global consortium of networks that exists to rapidly respond to and contribute to the characterisation of emerging infections). This study is collecting samples from COVID patients to answer vital questions such as: how long are patients infectious for? What are the risk factors for developing severe COVID and who might benefit from early drug treatment?

Professor Carlo Palmieri and Dr Lance Turtle in Liverpool are leading the cancer companion study to CCP-UK (led by Professor Calum Sample, Liverpool; Dr Kenny Baillie, Edinburgh and Professor Peter Openshaw, Imperial Collage London) which will provide data on outcomes for people with cancer diagnosis who contract COVID and he is being supported by several members of the Liverpool ECMC. This study will provide vital information to help inform how cancer services can be safely delivered whilst COVID-19 remains prevalent in the community. To date over 900 people with cancer have been recruited. The results of this study are directly informing the Governement via the SAGE (Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies) committee.