NEWS
Marshall University Joan C . Edwards School of Medicine
Clinical trial evaluates impact of activated charcoal regimen on COVID-19 symptoms
Joan C . Edwards School of Medicine researchers are investigating whether an open label , activated charcoal regimen impacts the severity of symptoms in COVID-19 positive patients . The goal is to determine if the regimen , by reducing substances made in the colon , can blunt the severity of lung diseases caused by COVID-19 . The study will examine whether the activated charcoal can reduce shortness of breath or the need for oxygen therapy , lessen or eliminate hospitalization , and , if hospitalized , reduce or avoid the serious consequences , including intensive care unit stays and mechanical ventilation .
A comparative analysis will be conducted based on age and gender of patients who elect to receive this treatment and those who do not . Approximately 250 patients will be enrolled in each part of the trial . The medication will be shipped directly to patients to avoid unnecessary risks of exposure . Over a two-week period , participants will take the medication as instructed and report symptoms to study administrators during weekly calls . Study participants do not receive compensation for participation .
This project ( IRB # 1632953 ) was reviewed by Marshall University ’ s Institutional Review Board in the Office of Research Integrity , a group not associated with the study . For more information or to enroll in the study , please contact the Marshall Clinical Research Center at 304-691-1836 .
The GABC primarily focuses on next-generation sequencing , which includes RNA sequencing , whole exome / genome , and chromatin studies . Whole transcriptome studies allow investigators to determine the abundance of all mRNAs in a cell or tissue , and therefore are very useful in discovering genes and metabolic pathways whose regulation is changed by genetic factors , diet , or exposure to drugs or other environmental factors . Whole exome and whole genome sequencing can be used to identify genetic variants ( e . g . single nucleotide polymorphisms , insertions , and deletions ) that are present in some individuals but absent in others .
In 2020 , the GABC acquired an Illumina NextSeq 2000 high throughput sequencer with support from West Virginia IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence ( WV-INBRE ), a National Institutes of Health funded program . The NextSeq 2000 sequences RNA samples much quicker and at a lower cost .
The scope of services provided by GABC , however , goes far beyond the advanced technology . Before work begins , investigators meet with GABC staff to discuss experimental design and objectives , technical issues ( e . g . biological replicates and input DNA / RNA quality and quantity ), probable sequence yields , methods of data analysis , and outcomes and overall cost .
For more information about partnering with the core facility , visit jcesom . marshall . edu / GABC .
The GABC is supported by funding from WV-INBRE grant P20GM103434 , COBRE ACCORD grant 1P20GM121299 , and the West Virginia Clinical and Translational Science Institute grant 2U54GM104942 .
Dr . Shannon Browning named chief medical information officer
Marshall University brings advanced genome sequencing to the Mountain State
Researchers in the Genomics and Bioinformatics Core ( GABC ) at the Joan C . Edwards School of Medicine use advanced sequencing technology to accurately measure the abundance of messenger RNA ( mRNA ) in whole transcriptome analyses and discover genetic variants in genomic sequencing studies .
Shannon L . Browning , RPh , MD , has been named chief medical information officer for Marshall Health . In that role , she will guide Marshall ’ s clinical physicians as they increasingly use telemedicine and a combined electronic health record with Mountain Health Network to improve patient care . Browning is double board certified in internal medicine and pediatrics , trained as a registered pharmacist , and serves as an associate professor at the school of medicine .
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