FCHG

There is increasing evidence that host biology, and host genetics in particular, explains part of the inter-individual variability among COVID-19 cases. Our project aims at assembling the largest possible French GWAS collection, in order to study common genetic variants from the host associated with susceptibility and severity to COVID-19. Data from this collection will be used to address two specific aims: 1) to implement a controlled-access framework to the collection to provide the French COVID community with a comprehensive and curated resource for national and international projects addressing host biology questions; and 2) to contribute with the collection to the ongoing international GWAS effort on COVID19 host genetics (https://www.covid19hg.com). During the past months, we started assembling existing national resources including prospective COVID19 cohorts (hospital-based recruitment), existing genetic and epidemiological cohorts and biobanks with genome-wide genotype data or blood collections. We are currently seeking funding to further support additional French cohorts willing to contribute by providing a genotyping solution at the CNRGH and/or phenotyping solutions (web-questionnaire, serology test kits). Altogether, we have already secured a sample size in the order of 4,000 participants including approximately 1,000 COVID cases, and we are targeting up to 30,000 participants for the final stage, including over 3,000 severe COVID cases, and 7,000 non-severe COVID cases.