Our coronavirus research
Our scientific teams with expertise in inflammation, infection and immunity hold vital clues to help tackle deadly virus outbreaks like COVID-19, or coronavirus.
Many critical COVID-19 patients develop dangerous levels of inflammation, leading to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and organ failure. This state is thought to be driven by pro-inflammatory proteins called cytokines, creating a ‘cytokine storm. Our researchers are working on treating chronic and hyper-acute inflammation, and ways to better understand the disease. Our research projects include
- Investigating the potential of amniotic (placental) epithelial cells as a COVID-19 treatment
- Testing potential cancer drug Veyonda to treat COVID-19
- Repurposing existing drugs and developing new medications to treat COVID-19
- Understanding the immune response to the virus
What is COVID-19?
COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2 is a highly infectious respiratory illness. In susceptible people, the immune system’s inflammatory response goes into overdrive and instead of clearing the virus, it causes widespread lung damage, leading to acute respiratory distress.
Restricting this inflammation could help thousands of people before antiviral therapies and vaccines are developed and ready.
Our scientists are finding and testing new ways to dampen this inflammation: to preserve lung function, stimulate immunity and ultimately, save lives.
COVID-19 facts
- The coronavirus pandemic is affecting millions globally
- The life-threatening acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in severe COVID-19 cases results from
hyper-inflammation - The infection is most severe in the aged and immune-compromised
- COVID-19 is the most severe global pandemic since ‘Spanish’ influenza in 1918–1919, which killed between
50-100 million people and infected about a third of the world’s population.
COVID-19 News
US FDA approval sought for clinical trial – potential COVID-19 treatment
Biotech company Noxopharm is seeking approval from the US FDA for a clinical trial in…
Inflammation and infectious diseases
Severe COVID-19 infection presents as excessive lung inflammation, involving the build-up of cells and fluid…
Cell therapies trial planned for COVID-19
More than 200,000 people have died from COVID-19 since January 2020. While Australia has been…