Researchers, clinicians and patients at The Ottawa Hospital will be contributing to the global effort to determine if plasma from people who have recovered from COVID-19 (called convalescent plasma) could be an effective treatment for actively infected patients.
When someone becomes infected with COVID-19, their body develops antibodies against the virus. The antibodies remain present in their plasma to shield them from possible future infection. In theory, these antibodies could help others with the same virus.
Drs. Dean Fergusson and Alan Tinmouth from The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa are working with Canadian Blood Services, Héma-Québec, Health Canada and researchers across Canada and the world to conduct a clinical trial to see if this therapy may be effective.
Once the trial is underway, Canadian Blood Services will contact potential convalescent plasma donors based on defined criteria which will be approved as part of the clinical trial protocol. Convalescent plasma donors will also need to meet current Canadian Blood Services’ donor eligibility criteria.
Learn more about the trial from Canadian Blood Services and McMaster University and see this story in the Globe and Mail.
The Ottawa Hospital is a leading academic health, research and learning hospital proudly affiliated with the University of Ottawa.
Media Contact
Amelia Buchanan
Senior Communication Specialist
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Office: 613-798-5555 x 73687
Cell: 613-297-8315
ambuchanan@ohri.ca
