Epidemiological Observation:
• Females are more likely than males to catch SARS-CoV-2, BUT
• Males are more likely than females to die from COVID-19.
Why is this?
One possibility may be related to sex disparities in underlying comorbidities.
For example, these underlying health issues have all been found to increase the chance of complications in someone with COVID-19:
More Common In:
Males
Females
Cancer
X
Diabetes
X
Heart Disease
X
Obesity
X*
*Obesity is more common in women but is nearly 3x more deadly in men
(source: WebMD)
But there are other tantalizing possibilities as well!
What about the role of sex chromosomes and the genes on them? ... The effect of estrogen or testosterone on the virus? ... The sex-specific differences in immune system response?
Inquiring minds want to know the answers to these questions and others because what we are learning about sex as a biological variable in SARS-CoV-2 morbidity and mortality will have important implications for future clinical management and COVID-19 disease mitigation strategies.
A warm welcome to Cecile Lahiri MD, MSc,who recently joined the SCORE Leadership Administrative Core (LAC) as Co-Investigator and SCORE Director of Research Development.
Dr. Lahiri's research focuses on antiretroviral therapy in the context of HIV cure and eradication, co-morbidities, toxicities, and side effects, with a specific interest in the impact of biological sex on each of these.
Her current NIH funding -- Defining Antiretroviral Pharmacology within HIV-1 Reservoirs of Males and Females(K23AI124913), which she turbocharged with a CFAR-K pilot award from the Emory CFAR (Exploring Sex Differences in Suspected HIV-1 Reservoirs), reflects that interest.
Why sex matters in science: The work that Dr. Lahiri is doing to determine exactly how HIV antiretroviral regimens differ in their effect on men and women has major implications for understanding potential sex differences in the efficacy and effects of HIV treatment and cure strategies.
NIH FOA Emergency Awards: Rapid Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19
(R21, Clinical Trials Not Allowed) PAR-20-177
NIH FOA Emergency Awards: Rapid Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19
(R01, Clinical Trials Not Allowed) PAR-20-178
May 14, 2020 (1:00 - 2:00) Capacity-building Zoominar Community Engagement in the Era of COVID-19: Opportunities, Challenges, and Lessons BEING Learned
Hosted by: Georgia CTSA Flyer Registration
May 16, 2020 (10:00pm - 10:45pm) Science Riot in Quarantine: Stay Home, Stay Safe, Stay Funny! After surviving a crash-course in comedy, a cohort of real live scientists will perform their late-night comedy talks live for a celebrity guest judge, and broadcast to all of us at home. It will be a brainy evening of laughter, learning, and libations from the comfort of your pandemic pajamas More information and Registration
Citing the SCORE grant number (U54AG062334)on all publications, posters, and presentations that benefited from any level of Emory SCORE assistance is crucial in ensuring our continued support from NIH.
Please use an appropriate variation of the below:
This [publication / presentation / poster] was partially supported by Office of the Director, (OD) and National Institutes of Aging (NIA) of the National Institutes of Health under award number U54AG062334.
Have information you would like to see included in our Newsletter? Email Shannon Walker (shannon.walker@emory.edu)
or
EmoryScore@emory.edu
