How genetic differences affect COVID-19 responses and outcomes

MHC Variation in Host Response to SARS-CoV2 and COVID-19 Outcomes

NIH-funded research University of California, San Francisco · NIH-10870188

This study is looking at how certain genes related to your immune system might affect how you respond to COVID-19, and it's for people who have donated bone marrow and already have their genetic information on file; by using a smartphone app, you'll help researchers understand symptoms and outcomes to improve vaccines and treatments.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of California, San Francisco NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (San Francisco, United States)
Project IDNIH-10870188 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates how variations in the Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) region of the human genome influence the immune response to COVID-19. By utilizing a smartphone app, researchers will collect data on COVID-19 symptoms and outcomes from a large group of volunteer bone marrow donors who already have HLA genotyping data. This approach allows for a detailed examination of how genetic factors may affect disease severity and response to treatment, potentially leading to better vaccine development and immunotherapies.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who are volunteer bone marrow donors with pre-existing HLA genotyping data.

Not a fit: Patients who do not have HLA genotyping data or are not part of the bone marrow donor registry may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to personalized treatment strategies and improved vaccine efficacy for COVID-19 based on individual genetic profiles.

How similar studies have performed: Other research has shown success in understanding genetic factors in infectious diseases, making this approach promising but still relatively novel in the context of COVID-19.

Where this research is happening

San Francisco, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-09 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.