The Importance of Research in Addressing the COVID-19 Pandemic:

The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has resulted in a global health emergency with major social and economic disruption. With no effective treatment or vaccine available, and given the ease of transmission, it becomes critical to develop rapid diagnostic and tracer methodologies, while working to understand how the virus causes critically severe disease in about 5% of those affected. Clinical and translational research of patients impacted by COVID-19 is essential, and in this commentary, the focus is on the use of serology testing as a proxy for infection to better understand risk for health complications, and tailor treatment and vaccine immunization to high-risk groups. The rationale for studying pediatric patients is that there is a paucity of research in this vulnerable population and children have fewer co-morbidities, but similar health disparities and disease complications as compared to adults. Asymptomatic children could also transmit the virus to others within their households and communities;thus, knowledge of their rate of infection is important to help mitigate spread and a possible second wave of infection. © 2020, Delaware Academy of Medicine. All rights reserved.