How COVID-19 and other common respiratory viruses affect young children
Official title: SARS-CoV-2 and Respiratory Virus Co-Infections Among Young Children
Funded at Kaiser Foundation Research Institute · NIH-11401570 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Looks at how having COVID-19 at the same time as other respiratory viruses changes illness and complications in infants and young children.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Kaiser Foundation Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Oakland, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | June 13, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $234,541 |
| NIH project number | 7R21AI183248-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11401570 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Infants and young children, especially those aged 0–2 years, with recent respiratory symptoms, a positive COVID-19 test, or hospitalization for respiratory illness.
✕Less likely to help
Adults and children without respiratory infections or whose conditions are unrelated to viral co-infections are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
What this research studies
If your child joins, researchers will compare children who have COVID-19 alone with those who also test positive for viruses like RSV, influenza, or rhinovirus. They will collect medical records, symptom information, and respiratory samples from children seen in clinics and hospitals and run lab tests to identify which viruses are present. The team will follow how sick children become, note complications such as respiratory failure or MIS-C, and measure markers of inflammation to see how co-infections affect outcomes. Findings are intended to show which young children are at higher risk and to inform better treatment and prevention strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could help doctors identify high-risk children and guide treatments or prevention to reduce severe respiratory illness.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies indicate co-infections can worsen illness in very young children, but comprehensive prospective studies combining clinical data and lab testing remain limited.
Where this research is happening
-
Kaiser Foundation Research Institute
Oakland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Regan, Annette Karena — Kaiser Foundation Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Regan, Annette Karena
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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.