COVID-19 Research Opportunities

Help determine the impact of COVID-19 on neurological conditions by participating in our Global Consortium Study of Neurological Dysfunction in COVID 19 (GCS NeuroCOVID study). A full description of our methods paper is listed here. The study is led by Dr. Sherry Chou, MD, MSc and Dr. Molly McNett, PhD, RN, with the data coordinating center housed at the University of Pittsburgh. There are over 200 sites currently participating in the consortium, with global representation from over 30 countries. The study is supported by the Neurocritical Care Society (NCS), the Neurocritical Care Research Network (NCRN), and the Clinical Translational Science Institute from the University of Pittsburgh.

Registration is now closed for the studies below. Please email info@neurocriticalcare.org if you would like additional information.

NCC COVID-19 OUTCOMES: This study is a prospective cohort observational study to determine the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on resource allocation and outcomes of ICU patients with acute neurological injury who require routine care and are not necessarily COVID-19 positive. The study will evaluate mortality and functional outcomes at hospital discharge and 90 days among critically ill, neurologically impaired patients admitted during the COVID-19 crisis period. Participating sites have the option to also compare those outcomes to a historical control group who were treated prior to the COVID-19 crisis.

NCC COVID-19 MANIFESTATIONS: This study is a prospective observational cohort study to document the prevalence and severity of neurological symptoms among patients with confirmed or suspected novel coronavirus (COVID-19). This study contains common data elements that all sites are requested to obtain (Tier 1 data), as well as supplemental data elements that are optional for sites to obtain retrospectively based on time and resources. This study will also offer optional addendums to investigate Tier 2 and Tier 3 strategies, such as more invasive blood and tissue sampling, based on local resources. 

NCC COVID-19 MANIFESTATIONS IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS: This study is an observational cohort study to document the prevalence and severity of neurological symptoms among patients younger than 18 years old admitted to the hospital with confirmed or presumed novel coronavirus (COVID-19). This study contains common data elements that all sites are requested to obtain (Tier 1 data). Tier 1 data are generally obtainable from electronic medical records and similar sources, under an IRB protocol allowing waiver of consent. Interested sites may also collect Tier 2 data such as standardized outcome measures at a later time point (~ 1 month after hospital discharge). A second IRB for tier 2 data would require informed consent, as would the process of data sharing outside the institution.