COVID-19-related Trials at Duke
Information about coronavirus-related trials can be found at the Duke Health COVID-19 Directory, a website designed to link patients to ongoing COVID research. The landing page features simple, quick-view descriptions of research opportunities for patients, family members, and providers. Options are provided in Spanish and English.
Roberts says her team wants to create an “easy button” to direct physicians and patients toward existing research and encourage participation. Roberts says increasing the number of patients in trials related to the coronavirus has proven challenging.
A key emphasis of the research is examining treatment options and efficacy for specific populations with distinctive personal characteristics, lifestyles, or pre-existing conditions. “Researchers are looking for the factors that help patients respond to treatment," says Roberts, suggesting that patients with distinctive genetics or comorbidities may benefit from different treatments. “The only way we will know what treatments work for various populations or groups is if we engage and encourage them to participate in research studies designed to help scientists identify the right treatments for the right patients. We are working hard to make sure we are reaching as broad a population as possible but we also need the help of providers seeing patients and ordering COVID tests for them.”
“Our effort is focused on reinforcing the message to busy providers that research may be a care option for the patient who has COVID. The research is important to help find and implement better treatment options for patients in the future,” Roberts adds.
Roberts says physicians or patients can reach out to the team by sending an email to MyResearcherPartners@duke.edu or calling 919-681-5698.