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We at the CVR are delighted to hear that Dr Antonia Ho has been recognised by the Medical Research Foundation for her ground-breaking COVID-19 research. Along with three other researchers, Dr Ho has been announced as a winner of the MRF’s 2021 Emerging Leaders Prize, and awarded £100,000.

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr Ho utilised her expertise in respiratory viral epidemiology to lead a study focused on COVID-19 in Malawi and the UK. Her work resulted in changing testing policies and practices for healthcare workers at high risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection. As a lead member of the Coronavirus Clinical Characterisation Consortium, Dr Ho acted as the CVR’s recruitment lead for one of the UK’s biggest COVID-19 patient studies, recruiting over 240 000 patients to date. Her COVID-19 research resulted in the development of the 4C mortality score, a method of categorising COVID-19 patients' risk of death which is utilised by clinicians to improve patient care.

Dr Ho, Clinical Senior Lecturer and Infectious Disease Consultant, said:

“I feel extremely honoured to be awarded the Emerging Leaders Prize. I will use the funding to generate new knowledge about COVID-19 in African settings, including understanding if prior exposure to other viruses changes the way the immune system responds to COVID-19.

“Understanding what factors determine the disease spectrum of COVID-19 in Africa is crucial to the fundamental understanding of the virus, and will also guide public health measures, optimise vaccination strategies, and inform the management of the next coronavirus pandemic.”

We at the CVR would like to congratulate Dr Ho for her award and thank her for her fantastic work. You can learn more about Dr Ho’s amazing research contributions and about the other prize winners by visiting the MRF website.

 

First published: 24 November 2021

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