KANSAS CITY, KANSAS (KPR) – The University of Kansas Medical Center will participate in a nationwide clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in preventing COVID-19 infection in exposed health care workers. The KU Medical Center made the announcement today (MON) that it is one of 60 such sites across the nation that would be participating in this clinical trial, led by the Duke Clinical Research Institute. The trial will launch April 22.
Mario Castro, M.D., MPH, vice chair for clinical and translational research and pulmonologist at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, will serve as principal investigator for the KU Medical Center site of the study. “Hospitals are reporting that 20% of U.S. health care workers are becoming infected with COVID-19. When that happens, one in five must go into quarantine and cannot take care of patients,” Castro said. “This study is critical for safeguarding the personal health of these workers and for protecting the health care workforce at this critical time. Our hope is that this drug will decrease the risk of exposed workers developing an active COVID-19 infection.”
KU Medical Center aims to recruit 500 participants to the study. Health care workers interested in participating in the hydroxychloroquine clinical trial at KU Medical Center may contact Shelby Almo at salmo@kumc.edu or by calling (913) 574-3006. Health care workers interested in learning more or in participating in the registry should visit heroesresearch.org.
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