Understanding how immune responses and contact patterns affect the spread of COVID-19

Immune response, transmission model, and contact network determinants of disease spread

NIH-funded research Duke University · NIH-11158299

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 typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionDuke University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Durham, United States)
Project IDNIH-11158299 on NIH RePORTER

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.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research include individuals of all ages, particularly those with varying immune responses or previous exposures to COVID-19.

Not a fit: Patients who are not affected by COVID-19 or similar infectious diseases may not benefit from this research.

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 performed: 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

Durham, 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.
Conditions communicable disease transmissionCommunicable Diseases
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.