Joining the fight against COVID-19

HealthPartners Institute is coordinating many research and education initiatives in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Early in the pandemic, we quickly geared up to provide the infrastructure and support for COVID-19 research. We established a research rapid response team with our Institutional Review Board and Critical Care Research Center. This helped us quickly and safely get critical COVID-19 studies in place.

We were the first site in Minnesota to participate in a COVID-19 vaccine trial—the AstraZeneca vaccine trial. We are also involved in vaccine surveillance through our participation in the Vaccine Safety Datalink. We have been studying the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in general, and when given during pregnancy.

Our Office of Health Professional Education organized COVID-19 case studies, creating a forum for discussion and learning about COVID-19 patients within our care system. They also developed a curriculum for clinicians to prepare for surges of incoming patients. These initiatives have been critical to learning and adapting to the evolving nature of the pandemic.

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Key projects

Phase 3 clinical trial for a COVID-19 vaccine

In September 2020, we began participation in the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine trial. We were the first site in Minnesota to participate in a COVID-19 vaccine trial, chosen because of our strengths as an integrated system with nationally recognized clinical research expertise. Among the roughly 100 research institutions participating in the trial, our organization was one of the highest enrolling sites. Our trial participants reflected the diverse community we serve, with more than 36 percent of participants from communities of color. This diverse representation leads to better science and, ultimately, better health. Data published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) show the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is highly effective at protecting against the virus. The AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is also affordable, relatively easy to store and critical to helping prevent COVID-19 around the world.

COVID-19 clinical trials

Early in the pandemic, we developed a rapid response process to get critical COVID-19 studies quickly and safely in place. With few options and extreme consequences, research played a significant role in providing care and hope. We participated in trials that addressed many stages of illness. These include studying an injectable emulsion in patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia; convalescent plasma as a treatment option; the efficacy and safety of otilimab IV in patients with severe pulmonary COVID-19 related disease and VERU-111 for the treatment of severe acute respiratory syndrome in patients at high risk for acute respiratory distress syndrome. We continue to manage a portfolio of COVID-19 clinical trials—remaining nimble and committed as we evaluate new and existing treatments.

COVID-19 clinical resources

Our Office of Health Professional Education developed online COVID-19 resources for primary care ambulatory clinicians, medical specialty clinicians, surgeons and community senior care clinicians. Their objective is to provide key updates to clinicians who may be redeployed to care for hospitalized, emergency department and critical care patients during the pandemic.

COVID-19 case conferences

Hundreds of clinicians and trainees have attended HealthPartners’ COVID-19 case conference sessions. Case presentations include recent or current patients from our care system and provide up-to-date education on approaches to care and workflows within our system. The meetings are held remotely, and then recorded and archived to allow for ongoing information sharing and reference.

Key publications

A list of our publications about COVID-19 related research and education can be found on our Knowledge Exchange site.

Learn more

Find out more about our work related to COVID-19 research and education in our news releases.

COVID-19 research and education