Liver patients invited to take part in new study into the effects of coronavirus on the body

Posted on: 27th May 2020

A study to explore the impact of coronavirus on internal organs is currently recruiting volunteers who have recovered from COVID-19, including liver patients.

The COVERSCAN study was launched in April, and will involve scanning key internal organs including the liver to model the potential unseen impacts of the virus. The aim is to direct future treatment development and possible vaccines.

Set up by life science company Perspectum, the research team is calling for volunteers to enrol for a period of 24 months. The researchers are interested in including patients who have underlying health conditions such as liver disease, to understand how their organs have been affected.

Although it is suspected that the COVID-19 infection can cause organ damage for some patients, and impact the haematological and immune systems, the study will be used to determine the extent of any damage. It will also examine how quickly the body recovers from the virus.

Advanced diagnostics will be used to scan participants’ lungs, heart, liver, kidneys, spleen and pancreas, to help map out the longer-term health implications of the global epidemic.

COVERSCAN is looking for people who have recovered from COVID-19 to take part.  If you fulfill the criteria, you will be asked to attend one of two trial centres; Oxford or The Mayo Clinic, in north west London. Here, your basic physical measurements such as your height, weight and blood pressure will be recorded, and you will have a full body MRI scan.

Perspectum, known for its advanced non-invasive liver scanning technology (LiverMultiScan), will use its imaging software to map the internal organs.

If you, or anyone you know, have recovered from a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 and are interested in taking part in this important study to help map out the UK’s health needs moving out of the epidemic, visit www.COVERSCAN.com for more information.