A Phase 1 interventional study of Coronavirus-specific T cell (CST) in SARS-CoV-2 Infection, sponsored by Children's National Research Institute. Recruiting at 2 sites in United States. Open to participants aged 2 Years to 80 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-03-12.
Sponsored by Children's National Research Institute · Phase 1, Interventional, and Prevention
This is an open label, phase I dose-escalation study to evaluate the safety of coronavirus-specific T cell (CST) therapy for prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection in immunocompromised patients following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).
Participants will receive donor-derived CSTs for prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection after HSCT (≥28 days and \<4 months after HSCT).
In this dose escalation trial, three doses (1x107/m2, 2x107/m2, and 4x107/m2) will be tested for safety, with study arms for adult (≥18 years of age and \<80 years) HSCT recipients (Arm A) and two arms for pediatric (≥12 years of age and \<18 years; ≥2 years and \<12 years) HSCT recipients (Arm B and Arm C, respectively), and defined dose escalations in each study arm. The study agent will be assessed for safety (stopping rules defined) and antiviral activity.
The primary purpose of this phase I study is to assess the safety of administering donor-derived CSTs in immunocompromised participants for prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Related and unrelated donors of participants who are at risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection will be enrolled for screening and production of CSTs from peripheral blood. Following product manufacturing, participants who have undergone HSCT will receive donor-derived CSTs for prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
It is a dose escalation study with separate study arms for adult (Arm A) and pediatric (Arms B and C) recipients of HSCT who are at risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Participants who have undergone HSCT and test negative for SARS-CoV-2 infection will be enrolled and receive one dose of CST product derived from their HSCT donor for prophylaxis. Participants aged ≥18 years and \<80 years will be enrolled on Arm A, participants who are ≥12 years of age and \<18 years of age will be enrolled on Arm B, and participants who are ≥2 years of age and \<12 years of age will be enrolled on Arm C.
Investigators will test three doses: 1x107 /m2, 2x107 /m2, and 4x107 /m2. At least 3 adult participants (Arm A) will be enrolled at each dose level before pediatric participants (Arm B) are enrolled. At each dose level, treatment of the first two adult participants enrolled at that dose level will be staggered at least 28 days apart and each will be followed for the 45-day safety monitoring period to assess safety and efficacy of CST product. Once the third adult participant on any given dose level has completed their 45-day safety monitoring period and the safety and efficacy data is reviewed and approved by the FDA, then adult participants can be escalated to the next dose level and pediatric participants can start enrollment at the dose level completed by the adult participants. If participants show evidence of safety and at least 2 of 3 have evidence of antiviral immune reconstitution against SARS-CoV-2, investigators will enroll pediatric participants at that dose level following FDA approval.
Additionally, infusion of pediatric participants enrolled at each dose level will be staggered at least 28 days apart, and all enrolled participants will be followed for 45 days for safety monitoring after CST infusion.
After receiving the CST infusion, participants will be closely monitored to evaluate their health status and the effects of treatment. Follow-up visits will occur frequently and will continue for up to 1 year after the CST infusion. During these visits, study doctors will perform clinical assessments, including medical history and physical examinations. Blood tests will be conducted, such as complete blood count (CBC) and comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), and research blood samples will also be collected for analysis. These assessments will help monitor safety, toxicity, and treatment effects.
7,640 studies on the registry are indexed under COVID-19; 488 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 24 is below the median of 100 across 4,099 interventional studies indexed under COVID-19.
Browse COVID-19 studies →Children's National Research Institute is the lead sponsor of 124 studies on the registry; 45 are open to participants now.
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Participant Inclusion Criteria for CST Infusion:
For recipient of CSTs derived from an HSCT donor under Arm A:
a. Patients aged ≥18 years and \<80 years who were recipients of prior myeloablative or non-myeloablative allogeneic HSCT using either bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cells or single or double cord blood ≥28 days and \<4 months ago who are at risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
For recipient of CSTs derived from an HSCT donor under Arms B and C:
a. Patients aged ≥2 years and \<18 years who were recipients of prior myeloablative or non-myeloablative allogeneic HSCT using either bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cells or single or double cord blood ≥28 days and \<4 months ago who are at risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Participants receiving calcineurin inhibitors for treatment of GVHD, or for other reasons, should not have any dosage changes within 7 days prior to infusion**
a. For patients receiving steroids, dosage must have been tapered to \<0.5 mg/kg/day of prednisone (or equivalent) at least 7 days prior to infusion.
Donor Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
Participants Exclusion Criteria for CST Infusion:
Participants receiving biological or immunosuppressive monoclonal antibodies targeting T cells within 28 days prior to CST infusion, including ATG, Alemtuzumab, Basiliximab, Tociluzimab, Brentuximab, or other medications under this category as determined by the investigators.
a. If alemtuzumab has been received within 6 weeks prior to CST infusion, plasma levels should be obtained to ensure drug clearance (≤0.16 pg/ml).
Participants with uncontrolled or progressing infections or active infections causing fever (temperature ≥38.1°C). Uncontrolled infections are defined as bacterial, fungal, or viral infections (including HIV and Hepatitis B and C) with either clinical signs of worsening despite standard therapy that may be attributed to the uncontrolled infection. Progressing infection is defined as hemodynamic instability, worsening physical signs, or radiographic findings attributable to infection.
Donor Exclusion Criteria:
Arm A will include adult participants who are at least 18 years of age but younger than 80 years.
Biological: Coronavirus-specific T cell (CST)
Arm B will include adolescent participants who are at least 12 years of age but younger than 18 years.
Biological: Coronavirus-specific T cell (CST)
Arm C will include pediatric participants who are at least 2 years of age but younger than 12 years.
Biological: Coronavirus-specific T cell (CST)
Participants will receive donor-derived CSTs for prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection after HSCT (≥28 days and \<4 months after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).
Incidence of grade ≥3 infusion-related Adverse Events (AEs)
Number of patients with grade ≥3 infusion-related AEs at 45 days of following CST infusion.
Time frame: Within 45 days of CST infusion
Incidence of acute Graft Vs Host Disease (aGVHD) grade ≥3
Number of patients with aGVHD grade ≥3 within 45 days of CST infusion.
Time frame: Within 45 days of CST infusion
Incidence of Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) or CRS
Number of patients with systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) or CRS
Time frame: Within 45 days of CST infusion
Incidence of Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome (MIS)
Number of patients with MIS
Time frame: Within 45 days of CST infusion
COVID-19 antiviral immunity using intracellular flow cytometry
Participant serum and PBMCs will be monitored for COVID-19 virus specific T cell activity at 45 days following CST infusion by phenotypic and functional studies including ELIspot with appropriate viral specific peptide mixtures and available HLA-restricted epitope peptides, intracellular cytokine staining, serum cytokine profiling and/or other assays as they become available for immune profiling purposes
Time frame: At 45 days following CST infusion
COVID-19 antiviral immunity using intracellular ELIspot assays
Participant serum and PBMCs will be monitored for COVID-19 virus specific T cell activity at 45 days following CST infusion by phenotypic and functional studies including ELIspot with appropriate viral specific peptide mixtures and available HLA-restricted epitope peptides, intracellular cytokine staining, serum cytokine profiling and/or other assays as they become available for immune profiling purposes
Time frame: At 45 days following CST infusion
Persistence of infused CSTs
Persistence of infused T cells will be monitored using deep sequencing to track the TCRB repertoire in the participant peripheral blood
Time frame: Within 12 months
Antiviral Activity
Antiviral activity will be assessed by measurement of SARS-CoV-2 viral load by screening RT-PCR from oral/salivary samples or from respiratory samples for any participant who develops a positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR post CST infusion
Time frame: Within 12 months
Plan to share: No
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