Understanding how immune responses and contact patterns affect the spread of COVID-19
Official title: Immune response, transmission model, and contact network determinants of disease spread
Funded at Duke University · NIH-11158299 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how things like your immune system and how often you interact with others can affect how COVID-19 spreads, with the hope of finding better ways to keep everyone safe from the virus.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | June 13, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $812,397 |
| NIH project number | 1U54AI191253-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11158299 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals of all ages, particularly those with varying immune responses or previous exposures to COVID-19.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not affected by COVID-19 or similar infectious diseases may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how different factors, such as individual immune responses and social contact patterns, influence the transmission of COVID-19. By developing a detailed model that accounts for variations in susceptibility and behavior, the study aims to create more accurate predictions of disease spread. The approach includes analyzing viral load measurements and immune responses to better understand how these factors contribute to outbreaks. Ultimately, the goal is to improve strategies for controlling the spread of infectious diseases like COVID-19.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective public health strategies for controlling COVID-19 and similar infectious diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in using similar modeling approaches to understand infectious disease transmission, indicating that this method is promising.
Where this research is happening
-
Duke University
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rogers, Bruce — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Rogers, Bruce
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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.