Long-term Care & Seniors

Lisa Barrett

Immunity in LTCF residents at risk of COVID-19 disease and death: immune biomarkers, immune function, and frailty associated with clinical outcomes in COVID-19 pandemic waves 1 and 2

Lisa Barrett, Dalhousie University and Nova Scotia Health Authority

This study aims to understand what makes older people more at risk for severe or fatal COVID-19 symptoms, and how effective vaccines are in stopping the spread of COVID-19 in long-term care facilities. The study participants are residents of several long-term care facilities in Nova Scotia.
Research summary

Dawn Bowdish
Dawn Bowdish

COVID-19 Infection and Immunity in Residents of Long-term care Facilities

Andrew Costa and Dawn Bowdish, McMaster University

This study examines how well vaccines work in the older population living in long-term care residences and which factors at the facilities may be directly linked to outbreaks.
Research summary Results Study website

Identification of underlying factors influencing the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 among workers and residents in long-term care homes: a multi-province study

Amy Hsu and Marc-André Langlois, Bruyère Research Institute

Researchers are studying the immune response of 800 residents, 2,000 staff and 500 caregivers in certain long-term care facilities in Ontario and British Columbia over the course of a year, and monitoring their vaccine response.
Research summary Results Study website

Determining the impact of COVID-19 vaccines on long-term care residents

Marc Romney, Providence Health Care / University of British Columbia

The study examines how the immune systems of older residents and staff in long-term care facilities in British Columbia respond to COVID-19 vaccination. Researchers will also assess the viral, immunological and social factors that have contributed to COVID-19 outbreaks in long-term care facilities to better understand why the disease has been fatal to so many residents.
Research summary Results

Sharon Straus

IPAC+ evaluating intervention impact using serological and cellular assays as correlates of SARS-CoV-2 exposure among long-term care homes (LTCH) staff, residents, and transmission networks

Sharon Straus, Unity Health Toronto

This study aims to understand the different aspects of immunity for long-term care residents and workers as well as their response to vaccines.
Research summary Results Study website

DISCoVER (Determining Infection Severity of CoV-2 in Elderly Residents): Type I interferon responses and their bio-psychosocial determinants to guide management of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the long-term care facility elderly

Donald Vinh, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC)

Researchers are looking at immune system, cardiovascular and mental health factors in a group of long-term care facility residents to determine what makes certain elderly people more prone than others to developing severe COVID-19.
Research summary Results

The PREVENT-COVID in Seniors Study: PRospEctiVe EvaluatioN of immuniTy after COVID-19 vaccines in Seniors

Agatha Jassem and Manish Sadarangani, University of British Columbia

This study aims to characterize and compare both short- and long-term immune responses to different COVID-19 vaccines, including among older adults and seniors. Researchers are comparing antibody quantities and function after various vaccine doses. The study is also exploring how a person’s prior human coronavirus infection may influence their response to COVID-19 vaccines.
Research summary Results Study website

Long-term care residents: Studying immune response to COVID-19 and developing an early warning system for outbreaks

Xiaoli (Lilly) Pang and Chris Sikora, University of Alberta

This study is examining how the immune systems of residents and staff in long-term care facilities in Alberta react to COVID-19 infection and to vaccines. Monitoring will be done via blood samples and sewage wastewater.
Research summary Results

Vaccine effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern in long-term care populations: a multi-province study

Amy T. Hsu, Bruyère Research Institute

This project builds on another CITF-funded study that encompasses the largest prospective cohort of workers, residents and caregivers of residents in long-term care homes across Canada. The team is studying the humoral immunity (immunity associated with circulating antibodies) against emerging variants in people in LTC and the association between humoral response and sociodemographic factors.
Research summary Results

Sharon Walmsley

Safety and Efficacy of Preventative COVID Vaccines (STOPCoV)

Sharon Walmsley, University Health Network

STOPCoV is comparing how people aged 70 and over respond to COVID-19 vaccines compared to younger people aged 30 to 50. They are looking at demographics, underlying illness, medication taken, and other factors. Once people are eligible for a third dose, the team will continue to follow participants to determine antibody responses to that third dose.
Research summary Results

Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA): Platform for studying the epidemiology of the COVID-19 pandemic in aging populations (CLSA COVID-19 Study)

Parminder Raina, McMaster University

Building on the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA), a national research platform with more than 50,000 individuals, the CLSA COVID-19 Antibody Study aims to collect and analyze blood samples from more than 19,000 CLSA participants in 10 provinces in order to estimate how widespread SARS-CoV-2 is among older adults by province, age, and sex.
Research summary Study website View study on

See our other funded research studies

See our other funded research studies