Biomed Firm Searches For Covid-19 Data

Researchers are short on organized information about what Covid-19 feels like for different patients, so the local bioanalytics firm IQVIA has launched a site to collect that information from volunteers.

Any adult in the U.S. who thinks they have been exposed to the novel coronavirus or has tested positive for Covid-19 can sign up. The IQVIA COVID Active Research Experience (CARE) Project portal guides volunteers through a consent form and questions about how they may have been exposed, what their symptoms are and whether they are taking any treatments.

“Some of the people who haven’t tested positive today will test positive in the future. We need to understand how their symptoms change over time, both before and after testing,” Leon Rozenblit said by email.

Rozenblit heads the patient registry center at Prometheus Research, an IQVIA company.

While IQVIA has employees scattered around the globe, Prometheus Research is headquartered on Audubon Street. Around 25 IQVIA employees work in the New Haven area.

IQVIA’s project launched in early April in the context of less Covid testing than public health experts say is necessary for people to return safely to work.

Yale New Haven Hospital has tested over 18,000 people for Covid-19. Testing is restricted to those with coronavirus symptoms who have doctor’s orders to get tested. (Last week CVS opened a new testing site on Long Wharf where anyone can make an appointment.)

Rozenblit said that researchers also need to understand why those who have symptoms of Covid-19 sometimes get a negative test result. He expects the survey results to help answer that question.

The CARE survey collects contact information so IQVIA can send follow-up questions to track volunteers’ symptoms. Volunteers may be able to participate in studies of treatments and vaccines later as well.

Rozenblit said that thousands have visited the project website. It is too early to identify patterns in who is signing up, he said.

What else are New Haven IQVIA employees doing to combat the Covid-19 pandemic?

“Sheltering in place! Seriously, we’re all working very hard from home and trying to survive the insanely long work days while dealing with our families,” Rozenblit said.

To read more and start the CARE survey, click here.