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Leading the Fight Against COVID-19…
is an engineered, highly purified antibody
thought to be effective in blocking the
virus from entering the cells.
Patients who are hospitalized with
confirmed cases of COVID-19 may volunteer
to participate in the study, which evaluates
the benefit of different monoclonal
antibodies in improving hospital discharge
rates and sustained recovery
at home for patients. Study
participants also receive
the current standard care
for COVID-19, including the
antiviral drug remdesivir.
“The science behind
COVID-19 has evolved at
warp speed, and we have
been racing to find lifesaving
therapies for our patients since
day one. We must remember
that well-conducted clinical
trials performed with the
highest scientific rigor are the
key to finding an answer to treat the virus
and help our patients,” said Uriel Sebastian
Sandkovsky, MD, MS, Baylor Scott & White’s
principal investigator for the ACTIV-3 trial
and an infectious disease physician on the
medical staff at Baylor University Medical
Center (BUMC).
Based on its high-quality scientific
rigor and successful enrollment in other
COVID-19 trials, Baylor Scott & White was
selected to be one of this study’s first
eight Vanguard sites. Vanguard sites are
deemed by the NIH as most likely
to successfully recruit patients for a
scientific study. Baylor Scott & White was
the first Vanguard site to be fully approved
to conduct this trial, which is now taking
place at 400 hospitals worldwide, and is
the highest trial enroller.
“The ACTIV-3 trial is allowing the
medical and scientific community to
come together to collaborate across
traditional boundaries and let the best
parts of humanity shine,” said Robert
Gottlieb, MD, PhD, a transplant cardiologist
and specialist on viral infections on the
medical staff at BUMC and Baylor Scott &
White Heart and Vascular Hospital in Dallas.
antibody clinical trial sponsored by Eli Lilly
and Company and the first monoclonal
antibody study led by Regeneron. The
fight does not stop there, however;
BSWRI is a part of more than 20 new
clinical trials and research studies that aim
to help humankind understand and battle
this debilitating virus.
BSWRI is a part
of more than
20 new clinical
trials and
research studies
that aim to
help humankind
understand
and battle this
debilitating virus.
These important
research initiatives include
clinical trials targeting
inflammation caused by
the virus, research focused
on plasma antibodies, and
trials targeting the virus itself.
Additionally, the
COVID-19 research
program is committed
to understanding the
psychological impact this
pandemic has on society
through philanthropically
funded studies that will help
researchers understand how individuals
are coping and finding mental resilience
during this time. Led by Ann Marie
Warren, PhD, research center director for
behavioral health at BSWRI, these initiatives
have already collected data on more than
5,500 participants and will investigate the
wide range of psychological symptoms,
including increased anxiety, depression
and post-traumatic stress disorder as
a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. They
will also study resiliency in those subjects
who seem to be coping despite the
impacts of the virus to find ways to bring
emotional tools to all. Communities
Foundation of Texas provided a generous
grant to advance the second phase
of Dr. Warren’s research, and to support
an additional study being investigated
by Thomas Cox, PsyD, director of faculty
development and education research
in graduate medical education at Baylor
University Medical Center, on the risk
of suicide for medical clinicians and
physicians during and after a pandemic.
Funding the Innovation
Extending investigational expertise
across more than 50 medical specialties,
Baylor Scott & White Research Institute
provides the business and regulatory
expertise to accelerate medical
breakthroughs and innovative new
treatment models through clinical and
translational activities. At outpatient
sites and hospitals across the System,
BSWRI conducts nearly 2,000 active
trials each year.
For decades, BSW Dallas Foundation
has received generous support from
donors to help advance clinical trials
and investigator-initiated studies. Without
this donor support and Baylor Scott &
White’s dedication and commitment to
advancing healthcare through research,
these potentially lifesaving trials would
not be possible.
“It’s so important for people to get
involved and help fund studies like these,”
said Dr. Mack. “This is critical research
that is going to not only help beat this virus
but in addition make an impact on the
way we practice healthcare in the future.”
For more information on opportunities
to help fund research that will advance
the care for COVID-19 and beyond, please
contact Sarah Burdi at 214.820.4721 or
[email protected].
4
Researching All Sides of the Pandemic
Baylor Scott & White was the first
Texas health system approved to conduct
a number of industry-sponsored trials,
including remdesivir trials for both
moderately and severely ill patients with
COVID-19, as well as the first outpatient
Baylor Scott & White Research Institute is uniquely prepared to help fight this pandemic because of
its infrastructure and experience with similar experimental research efforts.
THE COMPASS / BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE FOUNDATION NEWS / FALL 2020