Pediatric Infectious Disease Research Group’s COVID-19 Research

Seattle Children’s Pediatric Infectious Disease Research Group, directed by Dr. Janet Englund, continues to study SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing the disease known as COVID-19.

• Read: Everything You Need to Know About Fall and Winter Vaccinations – Q&A With Seattle Children’s Pediatric Infectious Disease Research Group
• Watch: Talk to your children about what to expect when they get the vaccine

Most recently, Englund was a co-investigator for the CASCADIA study, which studied how well COVID-19 vaccines protect participants against infection in the community. The study was conducted by the University of Washington School of Medicine and Seattle Children’s Hospital in Seattle and the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research in Portland, Oregon, and was funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

COVID-19 Research Studies and Vaccine Clinical Trials

Dr. Englund’s research team may be reached at IDResearch@seattlechildrens.org.

Pfizer COVID-19 Booster Study

The Pfizer COVID-19 Booster study will look at how the most recent vaccine booster aims to protect against the COVID-19 illness. Researchers at Seattle Children’s are conducting a COVID-19 vaccine research study for children up to 12 years of age who have never had a COVID-19 vaccine.

•  To learn more about this study, view the study page or download the study flyer.

Picasso Study

The Picasso study will investigate new methods to protect kids from RSV. Researchers at Seattle Children’s are conducting an RSV vaccine research study for children between the ages of 2 and 17.

• To learn more about participating in the Picasso study, email the study team at IDResearch@seattlechildrens.org or call 206-884-1100.
• You can also view the study brochure.

Investigating the Virus That Causes COVID-19

Research lead by Dr. Englund and the team have contributed key research to better understand the virus that causes COVID-19 and its effect on the community:

• Children infected with SARS-CoV-2 can make antibodies that can neutralize the virus and are likely to have a protective effect against COVID-19.
• Home testing to detect respiratory viruses in early 2020 led to the first documented U.S. case of community transmission of SARS-CoV-2 at the time.
• Home-based surveillance using online participant enrollment and specimen self-collection is a safe and feasible method for community-level monitoring of influenza and other respiratory pathogens, which can readily be adapted for use during pandemics.
• What happened to influenza during the pandemic?
• Partnership with Seattle Public Schools supplement a report on school-based interventions to increase vaccination coverage amongst school-aged children.
• In a 2023 publication, Seattle Children's researchers found the COVID-19 vaccine to be safe and effective for young children In protecting against the virus.

Investigator Biographies

Janet A Englund, MD I study the impact of respiratory virus infections in children and adults, with a special interest in patients at high risk for severe disease. I have studied the diagnosis, epidemiology, and prevention of respiratory diseases using novel diagnostic tests, vaccines, antivirals, and other therapeutics, and evaluated respiratory diseases in diverse populations, including neonates, pregnant women, immunocompromised children, and communities in the USA and developing countries. I have worked to improve prevention of viral diseases around the world. My recent work with the Seattle Flu Study (SFS) and Public Health WA and King County has resulted in landmark studies of SARS-CoV-2 in the community. We have conducted large-scale respiratory virus surveillance using innovative online recruiting and self-swabbing, resulting in identification of early SARS-CoV-2 community spread.

Alpana Amalkant Waghmare, MD My research is in the field of translational infectious diseases, with a particular focus on respiratory viral infections. My interest in viral infections in immunocompromised hosts stems from my experiences as a clinician, where I witnessed the impact of respiratory viral infections in vulnerable populations. I am currently focused on an often overlooked respiratory pathogen, human rhinovirus (HRV). Our data show that HRV is also now the most common cause of lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) and leads to mortality rates similar to those seen with known pulmonary pathogens including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza virus and parainfluenza virus. I propose that viral and host factors may serve as biomarkers for disease severity and can provide needed risk stratification and management tools. Data generated in this research will provide the critical basis to develop rational prevention and treatment strategies for immunocompromised patients.