Dr. Stefan Worgall, Chief of Pediatrics Pulmonology and Professor of Pediatrics at Weill Cornell Medicine has been awarded an R01 grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) for his study entitled, "Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Infection on Respiratory Viral Immune Responses in Children with and without Asthma.” For this study, Dr. Worgall and his multidisciplinary team of experts will investigate how SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses affect children of different ages and health conditions.
The COVID-19 pandemic has unveiled patterns concerning the effects of SARS-CoV-2 on children, particularly those with asthma. While children generally experience milder SARS-CoV-2 infections than adults, an unexpected observation has emerged—children with asthma seem to exhibit a lower incidence of severe SARS-CoV-2-related illness. This phenomenon may be linked to reduced viral-triggered asthma due to pandemic-related measures like social distancing and mask usage.
With the resurgence of non-SARS-CoV-2 respiratory infections and the growing prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among children, it is essential to understand how SARS-CoV-2 infection influences respiratory health, immune responses, and the efficacy of future vaccines, especially in the context of asthma. Dr. Worgall's research aims to explore the genetic and immunological factors contributing to these unique outcomes, leveraging a diverse NYC pediatric asthma cohort initiated early in the pandemic.
This study will provide critical insights into the age- and disease-specific impacts and mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 and common respiratory viruses in children to further our understanding of this complex interplay in pediatric health.