This scanning electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2 (yellow)—also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus that causes COVID-19—isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells (blue/pink) cultured in the lab.
The COVID-19 Scientific Interest Group was created in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This interest group aims to promote collaboration and facilitate the exchange of information and resources among NIH intramural scientists and their HHS colleagues concerning research on COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2.
Main Areas of Focus
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The virology of SARS-CoV-2 including viral genome, viral protein structure/function relationships, and viral pathogenesis
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The resulting disease of SARS-CoV-2 infection called COVID-19. Areas of interest include animal models of COVID-19, clinical manifestations in patients, disease biomarkers, long-term effects of COVID-19, and therapeutics including biologics, small molecules, and vaccines.
Lecture Series
The COVID-19 SIG lecture series facilitates communication of the ongoing scientific research to understand SARS-CoV-2 and treat COVID-19. Invited speakers share the latest research on a broad range of topics, including clinical findings, therapeutics, basic biology, epidemiology, and public health research. This lecture series runs from October through June.
Research in NIH Labs
The COVID-19 Scientific Interest Group, in collaboration with the Trans-NIH Preclinical Working Group, created an NIH Intramural Research Program (IRP) inventory and dashboard of COVID-19 projects. Currently, this dashboard can be accessed only by NIH leadership and the researchers who contributed information to it.
COVID SIG also offers lists open to the public.
Images of COVID-19
Contact Information
COVID-19 SIG created an email listserv in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 outbreak intended for NIH scientists to exchange information concerning research on COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2.
See more about the listserv and other ways of contacting COVID-19 SIG.