COVID-19 clinical trials - Clinical Research - Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre

Clinical Trials, COVID-19

Our researchers are conducting clinical trials to learn more about COVID-19. Some of these are seeking participants.

General information for clinical trial participants is available on our website. Additionally, participants may consult the Santé Quebec website list of clinical trials and the Health Canada list of authorized clinical trials for drugs and vaccines for COVID-19.

(This page was last updated in December 2020.)

CONTAIN COVID-19

Who: Adults diagnosed with COVID-19 less than 5 days ago, symptomatic, not hospitalized.

What: The purpose of this study is to determine whether treatment with inhaled and nasal ciclesonide (a type of steroid) can reduce viral replication and decrease severity of COVID-19 illness.

Participants enrolled in the CONTAIN study will receive either ciclesonide (in an inhaler and nasal spray) or placebo (also in an inhaler and nasal spray). They will be assigned randomly to one group or the other. After enrolling, they will receive the study drug or placebo at their home address by courrier.

Where: Participants enroll online and the medication is shipped to their home address.

When: Recruitment is ongoing, until all participants are recruited.

Principal investigator: Dr. Nicole Ezer

For information: contain-covid.com

COVID Human Genetics Effort

Who: Adults or children with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 (by nose swab). Family members of the above adults or children (regardless of whether they had COVID or not).

What: An international consortium (called the COVID Human Genetics Effort, or COVIDhge) is trying to understand why some people infected with SARS-CoV-2 (the virus responsible for COVID-19) have no symptoms, others get mild symptoms, and others get severe COVID-19.

Where: MUHC Glen Site.

When: Recruitment is ongoing.

Principal investigator: Dr. Don Vinh is the Canadian lead in this research project.

For information: www.covidhge.com or email muhc.covidbb@muhc.mcgill.ca

COVID ICU Study

Who: Managers, clinical educators or healthcare providers (regular staff and those who were trained during the pandemic period) who were involved in the pandemic planning, management, and care in the ICU.

What: Perceptions of the healthcare workforce, patients and families in designated intensive care units (ICU) on their preparedness and coping during the COVID-19 pandemic: Lessons learned to inform future directions. To better understand the preparedness and coping processes of the healthcare workforce, patient survivors and family members during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Where: One-hour interview on Zoom or by phone. Short questionnaires (5-10 minutes) to complete online or in a hard copy.

When: Recruitment is underway.

Principal investigator, MUHC: Andréa Maria Laizner, RN, PhD

For information: gelinas.lab.ccomtl@ssss.gouv.qc.ca, 514-340-8222 ext. 25784

DAP CORONA-COVID Study

Who: Individuals above the age of 40 years old with pre-existing health conditions or 70 years or older in good health, who are having medical symptoms that are related to COVID-19 will be invited to join the study.

What: This is a multi-center, randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled (RCT) study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Dapsone in older adults, and/or in adult patients (≥40yrs of age) with at least one high-risk comorbidity, among those with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. The purpose of the study is to assess whether this early intervention with the study-drug is effective against complications that may arise in the infected high-risk patients with COVID-19 symptoms and specifically, whether it will reduce the need for hospitalization in this patient group.

Where: At the RI-MUHC.

When: Recruitment is ongoing.

Principal investigator: Dr. Jean Bourbeau

For information: sponsor@dapcorona.com

The Living Laboratory Seroprevalence Study

Who: Full or part time workers at the Research Institute of McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC), including researchers, students, administrative and scientific support staff.

What: The purpose of this study is to learn about antibody levels produced against COVID-19.

Enrolled participants will complete an initial survey (10-15 minutes) and will answer a short questionnaire at every other visit. They will be asked to provide 10 mL of blood at study entry (Day 0), then at Week 2, and Week 6. Those who show antibodies for COVID-19 will be invited to provide additional samples at 12, 24 and 52 weeks.

Where: MUHC Glen site, MGH site, and administrative site (2155 Guy Street)

When: Recruitment is ongoing

Principal investigator: Dr. Bruce Mazer

For information: living.lab@muhc.mcgill.ca

Monitoring of Immune Responses in COVID-19 (MIRC) Study

Who: Adults aged 18 to 65 years, who have tested positive for COVID-19, and have manifested no, few or many symptoms associated with COVID-19 (e.g. fever, cough, etc.) or have recovered since screening.

What: The ICRS study, led by the McGill COVID-19 Research Consortium (MCRC), is designed to test the immune system of individuals who have been infected with the virus responsible for COVID-19, in order to test the effectiveness of the immune cells' response to the virus and the link between their responses and the symptoms observed in the individual.

Where: At the Centre for Innovative Medicine of the Research Institute of the MUHC, at the Glen site.

When: Recruitment is underway.

Principal investigator: Dr. Ciriaco A. Piccirillo

For information: FCE@mcgill.ca

MUHC COVID-19 Biobank

Who: Adults and children with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 (by nose swab), including recovered patients.

What: The Quebec government mandated all university health centres to build a Biobank of samples from COVID-19–affected persons, to provide researchers with samples and data needed for their work on COVID-19. This initiative led to the creation of the MUHC COVID-19 Biobank.

Enrolled participants will meet Biobank personnel a few times to give them some health information and blood. No drugs or interventions are involved.

Where: MUHC Glen Site and MGH Site.

When: Recruitment is ongoing.

Principal investigator: Dr. Don Vinh

For information: email muhc.covidbb@muhc.mcgill.ca

OPAL-COVID Study

Who: Patients with COVID-19 who are sent home to quarantine.

What: This study will test the feasibility of using Opal app for COVID: 1) for daily symptom and vital sign self-monitoring among COVID-19 patients tested at the MUHC-Glen site who are sent home; and 2) to connect them with the healthcare team, if their condition worsens.

Through the use of a smartphone app, the study intervention involves the daily capture of patient-reported health data to allow the healthcare team to remotely follow up individuals with COVID-19. It also entails offering educational material to participants via the app, to facilitate self-management.

Where: At the MUHC.

When: Recruitment is ongoing.

Principal investigator: Dr. Bertrand Lebouché

For information: adriana.rodriguez@muhc.mcgill.ca