Predicting severe COVID-19 illness in children using saliva analysis and AI.
Official title: Severity Predictors Integrating salivary Transcriptomics and proteomics with Multi neural network Intelligence in SARS-CoV2 infection in Children (SPITS MISC)
Funded at Central Michigan University · NIH-10733697 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how changes in saliva can help us understand which kids might get more seriously ill from COVID-19, so we can find ways to help them sooner.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Central Michigan University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Mount Pleasant, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2021 |
| Project end | November 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $713,937 |
| NIH project number | 4R33HD105610-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10733697 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-21 who have been exposed to SARS-CoV-2.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not been exposed to SARS-CoV-2 or are over the age of 21 may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how salivary biomarkers and clinical data can be used to predict the severity of COVID-19 in children. By analyzing changes in microRNA profiles in saliva, the study aims to identify which children are at higher risk for severe illness, including Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (MIS-C). The approach combines advanced artificial intelligence techniques with biological data to create a predictive model. This could lead to earlier interventions for those at risk, improving health outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enable early identification and treatment of children at risk for severe COVID-19 complications.
How similar studies have gone: While research on salivary biomarkers is ongoing, this specific integration of AI with salivary analysis for predicting COVID-19 severity in children is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sethuraman, Usha — Central Michigan University
- Study coordinator: Sethuraman, Usha
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.