Center for Clinical and Translational Science

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ABSTRACT The pandemic prompted by the novel SARS-COV-2 virus continues to have a devastating impact on the health of communities, clinically, socially and economically. Preventive approaches require an understanding of the virus prevalence and the level of herd immunity in the general population. As part of a previous natural history study, the Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS; University of Alabama at Birmingham [UAB]) collaborated with the University of Pittsburgh Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Laboratory of Infectious Disease (LID) to coordinate a national COVID-19 seroprevalence project. This study established a near-representative, nation- wide cohort of 11,300 participants who had not been diagnosed with the virus to provide biospecimens to evaluate baseline immunity across the United States. To examine the time-dependent population prevalence of detectable antibodies to SARS-COV-2, this scientific partnership of academic medical centers and the NIH’s intramural research program will recall and re-consent the established cohort to submit additional blood specimens and clinical information at 6- and 12-month time points from their original enrollment date to understand changes in COVID-19 immunity across the country (Aim 1). Newly obtained biospecimens will be used to determine the immune attributes associated with health outcomes, including outcomes in special or underrepresented populations and individuals across the life course (Aim 2). This work benefits from the deep expertise in the basic and applied research of infectious diseases as well as viral vaccine development, host immune response to viruses, and viral molecular biology and genetics at the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). It also leverages the rigorous and efficient capacity maintained by Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) Hubs at UAB and Pittsburgh to rapidly engage diverse cohorts of participants nationally to accelerate translational research that is high priority scientifically and for eventual public health practice. From this study, the collaborative team will gain crucial insights into the longitudinal impact of the COVID-19 pandemic across the country and will identify potential targets for a vaccine. These data are essential to assess the impact of public health efforts and to guide ongoing COVID-19 response.