South Australian scientists band together to fight COVID-19

A team of South Australian scientists are joining forces in the fight against COVID-19 to greater inform the local, national and global response efforts, including the creation of a vaccine.

The group of SA virologists, immunologists and clinicians has been equipped with $150,000 in funding from The Hospital Research Foundation and initial $75,000 from the Women’s and Children’s Hospital Foundation to commence their world-first research. 

The findings will help determine if in fact a “super race” does exist – recovered patients who can go back into the community with immunity – and how long the immunity may last.

Senior Virologist Dr Branka Grubor-Bauk from The University of Adelaide and Basil Hetzel Institute* said the team would study the response and recovery of COVID-19 patients who were hospitalised at the Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH) and Women’s and Children’s Hospital (WCH).

“South Australia is in a unique position to do this with a first-world health system, excellent research capabilities and, if we can act quickly, the possibility to track the virus and the population from an early point in the infection cycle,” Dr Grubor-Bauk said.

“We will be evaluating the virology and immune responses of hospitalised adult and child patients from symptomology through to recovery and ultimately for a further 12 months.

More information on this and other stories about research from the University of Adelaide are available in the Newsroom.