November 10, 2020

British Society for Immunology report on Ageing and COVID-19

The British Society for Immunology rapidly convened a taskforce on Immunology and COVID-19 to collate and review what is currently known about various topics relating to COVID-19 immunity, and to identify immunology research priorities in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

This expert taskforce compiled a new briefing note with the recent evidence on ageing and COVID-19.

Journalists dialled in to this briefing to hear three of the taskforce experts discuss their report and issues including:

• How does susceptibility to infection with SARS-CoV-2 vary with age?
• How does the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 change as we age?
• What role do the multimorbid conditions that we often associate with getting older have to play?
• What are the implications for treatments and vaccines in older people?
• What are the current gaps in our knowledge and what studies are, or should be, happening to address these?

Speakers included:

Professor Deborah Dunn-Walters, Chair of British Society for Immunology taskforce on Immunology and COVID-19, Professor of Immunology, Lifelong Health Research Theme Lead, University of Surrey

Professor Arne Akbar, President of the British Society for Immunology and Professor of Immunology at University College London

Professor Peter Openshaw, Professor of Experimental Medicine at Imperial College London