Ministry launches research into immunity against Covid-19
The Ministry of Public Health is planning to conduct research on immunity against the new coronavirus by inviting those who have recovered from Covid-19 and those who have had close contact with patients to participate.
“This “Hero Covid-19” project will be funded by Health Systems Research Institute with a budget of Bt3 million,” said Dr Kanawat Chantaralawan, consultant to Deputy Public Health Minister Dr Satit Pitutecha, who is heading the project. “The research aims to study how to build immunity against Covid-19, the period that a patient body requires to build immunity, and how long the immunity will last in the human body.”
“To be eligible volunteers for the study, candidates must be over 18 years old and either be a recovered patient or have had close contact with a patient,” he added. “Researchers will draw blood for the study three times: at three months, six months and nine months, while the volunteers’ identity will be kept confidential.
“Additional data and statistics required by the study will be supported the Department of Disease Control and the Department of Medical Sciences,” added Kanawat. “The study could help unveil the secret to prevention of Covid-19 in the future.”
Interested candidates can join the project at the Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University on tel 02-256-4132 ext 404 or e-mail: [email protected]