Providence Medical Center, in collaboration with the Mayo Clinic, is now part of a nationwide study, looking at the utilization of convalescence plasma as a therapy for COVID-19.

Sabato Sisillo, MD, Providence Chief Medical Officer, who is a Pulmonologist and Critical Care Specialist, along with Samir Desai, MD, Infectious Disease Specialist, are the Principal investigators for the Medical Center. They will be collaborating with Mayo Clinic to identify and enroll possible patients into this study. According to these physicians, a Providence patient this week will begin to receive convalescence plasma.

“We look forward to participating in this study as we all work towards aggressive steps in the fight against COVID-19 in our local community,” said Dr. Sisillo.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the treatment is based on the function of antibodies, proteins created by the immune system that combat invaders to the body in a variety of ways. Some are capable of neutralizing a virus, while others work by mobilizing a range of other immune cells that fight off disease. It’s not yet known by which mechanism COVID-19 antibodies might work, but the thinking is that an infusion of convalescent plasma may boost a generalized response, known as passive immunity, until a patient develops a strong, targeted ability to fight the virus.