Top
Skip to Content
LOGO(small) - Queen's University Belfast
  • Our x-twitter
  • Our facebook
LOGO(large) - Queen's University Belfast

Wellcome-Wolfson Institute For Experimental Medicine

  • Home
  • Our Research
    • Research Themes
    • Find a PhD Supervisor
  • Our People
    • Key Contacts
    • Academic Staff
    • Fellows
    • Research Staff
    • Technical Staff
    • Administrative/Clerical Staff
    • Emeritus Professors
    • Opportunities
    • Visiting Students
  • Our Place
    • Facilities
    • Seminar Series
    • The Barcroft Lecture
    • The Annual Kenneth B. Fraser Memorial Symposium in Infection Biology
    • Green Impact
  • Outreach
    • Balmoral Show
    • Northern Ireland Science Festival
    • Learn@Lunch 2022-2023
    • Pint of Science
    • UNISTEM Belfast 2025
    • Apply for Work Experience
    • Research Placements and Experiences - STEM Learning
    • NI Multiple Sclerosis Research Network
  • Education and Training
    • Postgraduate Degrees
    • Masters in Biomedical & Clinical Research
    • Undergraduate Degrees
    • Summer Student Programme
    • iEngage Online Summer Student Research Programme
    • Postdoctoral Development Programme
    • Short Courses
  • News
    • WWIEM Newsletter
  • Innovation
  • Impact
  • COVID-19
  • Donate
  • Home
  • Our Research
    • Research Themes
    • Find a PhD Supervisor
  • Our People
    • Key Contacts
    • Academic Staff
    • Fellows
    • Research Staff
    • Technical Staff
    • Administrative/Clerical Staff
    • Emeritus Professors
    • Opportunities
    • Visiting Students
  • Our Place
    • Facilities
    • Seminar Series
    • The Barcroft Lecture
    • The Annual Kenneth B. Fraser Memorial Symposium in Infection Biology
    • Green Impact
  • Outreach
    • Balmoral Show
    • Northern Ireland Science Festival
    • Learn@Lunch 2022-2023
    • Pint of Science
    • UNISTEM Belfast 2025
    • Apply for Work Experience
    • Research Placements and Experiences - STEM Learning
    • NI Multiple Sclerosis Research Network
  • Education and Training
    • Postgraduate Degrees
    • Masters in Biomedical & Clinical Research
    • Undergraduate Degrees
    • Summer Student Programme
    • iEngage Online Summer Student Research Programme
    • Postdoctoral Development Programme
    • Short Courses
  • News
    • WWIEM Newsletter
  • Innovation
  • Impact
  • COVID-19
  • Donate
  • Our x-twitter
  • Our facebook
In This Section
  • WWIEM Newsletter

  • Home
  • Wellcome-Wolfson Institute For Experimental Medicine
  • News

News

Queen’s University leading UK-wide trial to measure COVID-19 antibodies in children

Queen’s University Belfast is leading a UK-wide trial called ‘Seroprevalence of SARS-Cov-2 infection in healthy children’ to measure antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) in healthy children.

Over 1,000 children (known as ‘Covid Warriors’) from Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales will have their antibodies measured at baseline, 2 months and 6 months. 

The aim of the study is to assess the numbers of children who may have had COVID-19, and if those children have antibodies that may be able to fight off the infection. 

The findings from this study will be important for estimating the proportion of children that have been exposed to SARS-CoV-2 and have antibodies that may be consistent with immunity. This data can then be considered as part of planning measures, such as opening schools and opening routine paediatric services, such as health visiting and paediatric clinics. 

The study is led by Dr Tom Waterfield, researcher from the Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine at Queen’s University Belfast, in partnership with the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust Northern Ireland and Public Health England. 

Dr Waterfield said: “It is unclear what proportion of UK children have been exposed to COVID-19 and how many, if any, have the necessary antibodies to prevent future re-infection. This important research may help with planning for the reopening of schools and other vital children’s services.” 

Health and Social Care Research & Development Division (HSC R&D Division) of the Public Health Agency plays an ongoing role in supporting the conduct of high-quality health and social care research and has provided funding to support the delivery of this important study. 

Professor Ian Young, Chief Scientific Advisor and Director of HSC Research and Development said: “Research studies are vital at this time so that patients can access the best possible treatments which can help tackle the spread of COVID-19. HSC R&D Division has been working with researchers across the HSC and academia to address the global problem of COVID-19. The results of this study will provide insights into the exposure of children in the UK to the SARS-CoV-2 virus over an important period of time.” 

 

Dr Shamez Ladhani, Consultant Epidemiologist at Public Health England, said: “This study will play an important part in monitoring SARS-CoV-2 transmission in the community as we move out of lockdown and more children return to school, adding to vital data on antibody and virus prevalence already being collected through PHE’s national surveillance programme.” 

Health Minister, Robin Swann said: “I very much welcome the fact that Queen’s University is leading this hugely important UK-wide trial. Expert research has a central role in the world’s battle against Covid-19. Our understanding of this virus has already been greatly enhanced at pace but there is still much more to learn. My thanks go to everyone involved in this study.” 

The study is supported by funding from HSC R&D Division, Public Health Agency, The Belfast Health and Social Care Trust and was also subsidised by subsidised by a donation from the Queen’s Foundation thanks to a past graduate of the University through a charitable gift in their will. It is being delivered in partnership with The Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Public Health England, the Ulster Independent Clinic, NHS Glasgow and Greater Clyde, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and Cardiff and Vale University Health Board. 


Share
Latest News
  • Queen’s academic awarded prestigious Professorship
    22 May, 2024
  • Professor Pascale Cossart of Institut Pasteur Receives Barcroft 2020 Medal
    4 May, 2022
  • Resource launched illustrating COVID-19 variants across Northern Ireland
    8 February, 2022
  • New research will focus on repurposing existing anti-viral therapies to treat patients with COVID-19
    31 January, 2022
  • Non-invasive ventilation for COVID-19 patients isn’t linked to heightened infection risk
    5 November, 2021
News
  • WWIEM Newsletter
QUB Logo
Contact Us

Wellcome-Wolfson Institute For Experimental Medicine

School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences
Queen's University Belfast
97 Lisburn Road
Belfast
BT9 7BL

Tel: (+44) 028 9097 1643
Email: wwiem@qub.ac.uk

Quick Links

  • Home
  • Our Research
  • Our People
  • Our Place
  • Education and Training
  • Opportunities

 

© Queen's University Belfast 2024
  • Privacy and cookies
  • Website accessibility
  • Freedom of information
  • Modern slavery statement
  • Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
  • University Policies and Procedures
Information
  • Privacy and cookies
  • Website accessibility
  • Freedom of information
  • Modern slavery statement
  • Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
  • University Policies and Procedures

© Queen's University Belfast 2024

Manage cookies