Computer modeling of severe COVID-19 pneumonia
Modeling Core
Using machine learning on patient blood, lung and nasal samples to find markers and treatment targets for people with severe COVID-19 pneumonia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11248060 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would have blood, nasal swabs, and lung fluid collected repeatedly while doctors record daily clinical measures, and those samples would be analyzed with multi-omics tests (like proteins, genes, and other molecular data). Researchers combine these clinical timelines and molecular data using machine-learning and systems-biology methods to build time-aware computer models of how severe COVID-19 pneumonia unfolds. The team previously published a detailed model in Nature that pointed to a potential drug (Auxora), and this renewal adds more serial sampling and deeper analyses to refine and expand those models. The goal is to produce tools that help clinicians predict disease courses and highlight biomarkers and treatments that could help patients in the ICU.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People hospitalized with severe SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pneumonia, especially those in the ICU who can provide serial blood, nasal or bronchoalveolar lavage samples, are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People with mild or no COVID-19 symptoms, or those with non-COVID respiratory illnesses not included in the project, are unlikely to receive direct benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could help doctors predict which patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia will worsen and point to new targets for treatment.
How similar studies have performed: The team’s earlier work produced a model published in Nature that predicted the possible benefit of the CRAC channel inhibitor Auxora, so there is precedent though more validation is needed.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- Northwestern University — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Amaral, Luis a. Nunes — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Amaral, Luis a. Nunes
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.