By DR. MARY GILLIS, D.Ed.
WISH-TV | wishtv.com
Franciscan Health, in collaboration with 25 other hospitals across the country, kicked off the BLAZE-1 study, a clinical trial designed to test a new antibody treatment against COVID-19.
The study is designed to assess a protein derived from lymphocytes, the body’s main immunity cell. The treatment, researchers hypothesize, will attack the spike protein feature on the coronavirus molecule and block the protein’s ability to attach to other cells.
“By blocking that attachment, you are preventing the virus from replicating and preventing it from infecting other cells,” Dr. Imad Shawa, principal investigator and director of clinical care at Franciscan Health Indianapolis told News 8 in an interview.
Shawa also discussed how antibody therapy works, fears people may have when volunteering for clinical trials and why it’s important now more than ever to participate in scientific research.
Click here to see the entire interview.
If you are interested in participating in the research study click here.