November 4, 2021

Study looking at genetics and risk of severe COVID-19 disease

Scientists have carried out a study to investigate which gene on a previously-identified stretch of chromosome 3 is involved with risk of severe disease and death from COVID-19, and which version of the gene increases an individual’s risk if they have it.

This study has been published in Nature Genetics.

Journalists dialled in to this briefing to ask their questions and to hear the authors of the study discuss aspects such as:

– what is the gene in this stretch of DNA that affects risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes?

– do certain demographic groups have a version of the gene that makes them at greater risk?

– what body processes is the gene involved with?

Speakers included:

Prof James Davies, Associate Professor of Genomics, Oxford University’s Radcliffe Department of Medicine

Prof Jim Hughes, Professor of Gene Regulation, University of Oxford

Dr Damien Downes, Postdoctoral Researcher in Genomic Medicine, University of Oxford

This Briefing was accompanied by an SMC Roundup of Comments.