Groundbreaking COVID-19 Research

The UNC Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases is a global leader in infectious disease research and clinical care. When the pandemic began, their research teams jumped into action to fight COVID-19 head-on with exploratory treatments and new research to help both healthcare workers on the front lines and the community at large. Explore their studies and other COVID-19 research at UNC below!

COVID-19 Vaccine Trial

Novavax Phase 3 Vaccine Trial

Researchers are now looking for healthy volunteers to take part in an experimental COVID-19 vaccine trial. Your participation will help to provide new scientific information that will benefit patients in the future and help us to understand if this vaccine is effective in preventing COVID-19 infection.

    • You are 18 years or older
    • You are at high risk for COVID-19 Infection
  • At your first two visits, you will receive 2 injections of either the study vaccine or a placebo, which is an injection without the active ingredient. These visits will last up to 2 hours. At some study visits, we will take samples of your blood and saliva. Your phone visits will last about 10-20 minutes.  You will also be asked to fill out an electronic diary to record any side effects you experience after your injection and to monitor for COVID-19 symptoms. 

  • 919-966-6712 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

    Not near UNC-Chapel Hill? Join the COVID-19 vaccine registry to find a trial location near you!

Explore COVID-19 Research

Not sure what COVID-19 study is the best fit?

Reach out to us and we'll help you find the right opportunity. Call us at (800) 804-9140

COVID-19 Prevention Research

CoVPN Registry

Researchers are looking for healthy people at high risk for COVID-19 to join the Coronavirus Prevention Network (CoVPN). CoVPN is a national registry to connect people who are interested in participating in coronavirus prevention studies with clinical research sites around the country. As clinical trials begin at UNC, or a site near you, researchers will be able to reach out to you directly to tell you about these opportunities.

Use code "CHNC07" to volunteer for the UNC site.

Regeneron Antibody Study for Household Members of Individuals Diagnosed with COVID-19

This research study is looking at experimental drugs to prevent the COVID-19 disease from occurring in people who have been exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The study drugs target the virus that causes COVID-19 and are designed to make it harder for the virus to infect you. The goals of the study include seeing whether the study drugs lower infection by the virus, whether they reduce the need for medical visits and the amount of time you spend away from your day-to-day activities (i.e., work, school, caring for others) due to COVID-19, and whether they can cause side effects.

    • You are 12 years or older
    • You live in the same household as someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19.
    • Weekly visits for 1 month
    • Monthly visits for an additional 6 months
    • Participants may receive up to $1150 for taking part in this study 
    • If traveling greater than 50 miles one-way per visit, please ask the study team about reimbursement options. 

COVID-19 Treatment Studies

ACTIV-2 Study

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the ability of various drugs to improve health outcomes for people with COVID-19. We also want to see if these drugs are safe, and if these drugs can stop the disease process and prevent hospitalization. This study is designed to quickly identify safe and effective drugs that can treat COVID-19.

  • Adults 18 years and older who:

    • Tested positive for COVID-19 less than 7 days ago
    • Have COVID-19 symptoms
    • Are at home (not in the hospital)
  • The study lasts about 6 months. You will have in person visits to check on the status of your health. Most of these visits will happen during the first month of the study. You will also have phone calls or video chats from your home with a researcher.

    Read more about this study at UNC.

  • If you think you may qualify for this study, call (877) 345-8813

    Visit https://www.activ-2.org for more information.

Studies to learn more about COVID-19

OBS-C Study

The OBS-C study is an observational study that is enrolling participants that test positive AND negative to COVID-19. This study is analyzing multiple aspects of COVID-19 in people that TEST POSITIVE, including but not limited to the epidemiology and risk factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection, how the disease affects someone’s immune system, and the various symptoms and ways the illness is displayed in the body. The study would also like to enroll a few people that TEST NEGATIVE, but have symptoms of a respiratory illness, in order to determine the reliability of the test.

  • For Those who TEST POSITIVE:

    • 5 in-person visits at the Respiratory Diagnostic Center at UNC Chapel Hill: 4 visits, once a week, for a month, as well as a 6-month follow-up visit
    • Questionnaires & surveys administered via telephone
      Sample collection (i.e. blood draw, nasal swabs, etc.)

    For Those who TEST NEGATIVE, but have symptoms of respiratory illness:

    • Telephone visit to enroll in the study
    • One in-person visit at the Respiratory Diagnostic Center at UNC Chapel Hill approx. one month after initial telephone call
    • In-person visit will include a blood draw
  • Erin Hoffman - Coordinator

    540-290-5081 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

    or view the Research for Me listing.

COVID-19 in Farming and Food processing industries in North Carolina (COFF-NC)

The purpose of this study is to learn more about how COVID-19 spreads among people working in the food processing industry and their household members. This sample collection and questionnaire study will look at the coronavirus infection and explore new ways to prevent transmission.

  • For those who work in MEAT PACKING/FARMING/FOOD PROCESSING:

    • At least 18 years old
    • Worked in an industry above in North Carolina for at least 4 weeks since February 2020
    • Willing to give at least 1 blood sample

    For HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS of workers:

    • At least 1 year old
    • Have a household member who works in meat packing/farming/food processing and is taking part in the study
    • Willing to give at least 1 blood sample
    • Up to 3 monthly study visits
    • Visits take place at an office in Siler City or at your home
    • Participants fill out a questionnaire and give samples (blood, nasal swab, and saliva)
    • Participants receive $25 for each study visit
  • Melissa Klein - Coordinator (habla español)

    (919) 869-5595 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

    or view the Research for Me listing

We have even more COVID-19 research at UNC! Some of the studies listed are recruiting by physician referral or invitation only, meaning that they are looking for very specific participants. We encourage you to explore what UNC is doing to combat COVID-19, but you won't be able to express interest in some of these studies. 

COVID-19 News & Resources

We are learning new things every day about COVID-19. For information about UNC Health's response, visit the UNC Health COVID-19 Resources page. To read stories about how UNC-Chapel Hill researchers are fighting coronavirus, visit UNC Research's COVID-19 Coverage page, and for up-to-date information and statistics about COVID-19, visit CDC.gov. 

How can you help?

Donate Plasma

Have you been diagnosed with COVID-19, tested positive for COVID-19 antibodies, or had a known COVID-19 exposure? You may be able to help patients who are currently hospitalized with COVID-19. You may be eligible to donate plasma. The UNC Blood Donation Center in Chapel Hill, NC is collecting plasma from eligible donors. Click here to learn more or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Sew Mask Helpers & Ear Savers

Wearing a mask all day can cause pressure on healthcare workers' ears. Please consider donating your time and skill to make mask helpers for healthcare workers. Find instructions for creating mask helpers and ear savers on UNC Health's website. 


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