UMass Chan partners with Moderna on childhood disease transmission study

A modern hospital building with a sign that reads UMass Chan Medical School

Photo | Timothy Doyle UMass Chan Medical School in Worcester

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By Isabel Tehan

UMass Chan Medical School in Worcester has entered a new collaboration with Cambridge pharmaceutical company Moderna to study cytomegalovirus transmission in early education settings.

Globally, CMV is the most common infectious cause of birth defects, and the study will aim to determine how it spreads among children and household members, according to a Monday press release from UMass Chan. It has begun enrolling participants at group child care and early childhood education settings in Worcester and Cambridge.

Goals of the study are to characterize immune responses to CMV over time and to use the findings to design prevention strategies and awareness campaigns for CMV, according to the press release.

The study is led by associate professor of medicine at UMass Chan Dr. Laura Gibson with input from community organizations including the YWCA Central Massachusetts.

“We joined the study to potentially have the ability to help shape the future of prenatal infections and be part of a community of like-minded people. We believe our work is not just with young children but with the whole family. Collaborating with UMass Chan will give us the opportunity to provide connections to community resources and support to help families thrive and potentially reduce the risk of CMV transmission,” Darlene Belliveau, director of children’s services at the YWCA, said in the press release.