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CoV-ETH detailed information

This project is organized by ETH Zurich.
Project lead: Prof. Dr. med. Jörg Goldhahn
Scientific lead: Prof. Dr. med. Markus Stoffel and Prof. Dr. Susanne E. Ulbrich

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More detailed information about the study

Aim of the project

The aim of the study is to gain insights into the long-term development of immune protection against the coronavirus. The study aspires to make a scientific contribution to combating the current COVID-19 epidemic.

Who can participate?

Invited to participate in this study are employees or students of ETH Zurich who have reached the age of 18 and are not older than 64 years.

Persons older than 64 years of age, who are in quarantine or in self-isolation, who either suffer from an acutely diagnosed COVID-19 infection or symptoms of respiratory tract infections such as cough, fever (≥38°C), breathing difficulties or who are receiving regular steroid-, chemo- or immunotherapy, who are undergoing cancer treatment or who suffer from a severe autoimmune disease are NOT eligible to participate in this study.

General information about the project

The outbreak of COVID-19 was declared a public health emergency of international significance by the World Health Organization (WHO) at the end of January 2020, with enormous consequences for the lives of people, families, organizations and entire economies. Serological tests, also known as "immunity tests", determine antibodies against the virus and detect individuals who have been infected, even without symptoms. This can reveal the true extent of the epidemic. Information from antibodies found in blood is key to answering basic questions about COVID-19 and the virus that causes SARS-CoV-2.

The aim of this research study is to determine the immune status of the ETH community against SARS-CoV-2 over a period of one year. With the help of volunteer study participants from ETH Zurich, the spread of COVID-19 infections, in particular asymptomatic or mild forms, are to be monitored over the long-term, occurring at intervals with limited curfews and future easing of restricted contacts. Furthermore, the study will address unanswered epidemiological, immunological, biological and physiological questions regarding Covid-19, such as:

  • At what antibody concentration is one protected (immune)?
  • How does such immune protection change over the course of a year?
  • Can people be reinfected with SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes Covid-19)?
  • Are there biomarkers in the blood that have prognostic or diagnostic significance for the severity of COVID-19 disease?
  • We are also interested if there is an immunological cross-reaction between COVID-19 and other respiratory tract infections caused by seasonal (corona) viruses.

The most important facts in brief

Up to 3,000 members of ETH Zurich are invited to participate in the study. The study lasts ≈ 1 year and involves regular blood drawings. Blood will be drawn at two locations (HG and Hönggerberg campus) at ETH Zurich. The project will be carried out in accordance with the laws in Switzerland. The responsible ethics committee has examined and approved this project.

Procedure

In order to determine the proportion of persons already ill with COVID-19 (seroprevalence) and to determine the level of immune protection (titer against SARS-CoV-2 antibodies), we will use a validated in-house ELISA. We expect a seroprevalence between 1 - 5% at the beginning of the study. Thus, with a total number of 3`000 participants (subjects), 30 - 150 subjects are expected to be seropositive. It is not possible to estimate how this number will develop over time, as it depends on the local frequency of infections and the gradual opening of curfews.

Regular course of studies (Scheme I)

During the period of one year, volunteers are invited every three months to participate in five study visits (Scheme I), during which 2x8mL of blood will be drawn. In addition, they are asked to answer a questionnaire once a month by e-mail.

Determination of an existing disease (Scheme II)

It may be that the blood analysis after a regular study visit shows that a person already has anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in his blood, i.e. (s)he is "seropositive". Already finding antibodies in the blood means that a coronavirus infection has probably already taken place, possibly with very mild symptoms or without noticing anything.

Individuals with a seropositive SARS-CoV-2 result will have additional blood drawings after 2 and 4 weeks (Scheme II), in order to validate the result and to follow the antibody titers over time. The sampling interval is related to basic knowledge of changes in antibody titre over weeks and months. These intervals are necessary to determine changes in the concentration of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.

In this case of a seropositive result, the person will be contacted by a member of the study team to schedule the additional study visits.

Acute respiratory infection during your participation (Scheme III)

Furthermore, we will investigate the course of antibodies and the properties of immune cells during and after acute respiratory tract infections and also determine the respective pathogen (Scheme III).

Therefore, if a volunteer suffers from an acute respiratory disease (e.g. rhinitis, flu) or acute symptoms such as severe fever, cough, sudden breathing difficulties during the study, he/she is asked to contact the study director immediately (see contact).

During the illness, a sample of a morning sputum will be collected at home. The collection of this sample, which will be analyzed for the pathogen, is organised by the study team.

Results

The investigations of this study will generate novel data that require further confirmation.

Benefits

We regularly inform about new findings and publish data without restrictions. The participants have no direct personal benefit from participating in the study. However, the results may be important for others who may become ill in the future.

Rights

Participation in the study is voluntary. Your decision not to participate in this research project in no way affects your employment. Anyone who does not wish to participate or later withdraws from the study does not have to justify this. Medical treatment/care is guaranteed regardless of your decision. Questions about participation and the project may be asked at any time.

Duties

As a participant, it is necessary that the following guidelines and requirements are observed. The FOPH's instructions on the behaviour of the population during the corona pandemic must also be followed during travel to the study, as well as all instructions given by the study team on site (keep social distance, etc.). The study participants are obliged to inform the project management if they suffer from an acutely diagnosed corona virus disease or its acute symptoms such as severe fever, cough, congestion, fatigue and breathing difficulties.
Participation in the study visits and completion of the electronic questionnaires is mandatory.

Risks

As a result of the project, the study participants are exposed to only risks such as those associated with blood collection. During the course of the study, the FOPH's guidelines will be strictly adhered to. In cooperation with the Department of Safety, Health and Environment (SGU), it was determined that the risk of contracting a coronavirus infection is low.

Resignation

The test persons can stop and withdraw from the project at any time if they wish. After the evaluation, the personal data will be anonymized. The key allocation to the data will be destroyed, so that afterwards nobody can find out from whom the data originally came. The samples will be destroyed after the end of the project.

Register for the longitudinal study

Contact
ETH Zurich
Dep. of Health Sciences and Technology

Prof. Dr. Jörg Goldhahn
Deputy Director Institute for Translational Medicine
Switzerland

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