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COVID-19 Facts and Resources

COVID-19 Research at Dana-Farber

  • In 1947, Dr. Sidney Farber's pioneering research developed modern chemotherapy for children with leukemia. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute has been a worldwide medical research leader ever since. Today, we are applying our pioneering research tradition to developing novel approaches towards understanding and treating COVID-19.

    Dana-Farber scientists are developing groundbreaking strategies to bar the COVID-19 virus from entering cells — thus preventing infection and averting transmission of the virus. Supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other funding organizations, we are collaborating with fellow scientists worldwide to map an understanding of how the virus interacts with its host human proteins.

    Our researchers are also at the forefront of developing antibody therapy for COVID-19 — utilizing a Dana-Farber-developed collection of 27 billion human antibodies against viruses, bacteria, and other bodily invaders. Dana-Farber's prior experience in developing treatments for SARS, MERS, and other viral-borne illnesses gives us a deep level of expertise for attacking this new virus.

  • Haribabu Arthanari, PhD, in his lab

    Cancer Scientists Pivot to Help Battle COVID-19

    While Dana-Farber clinical investigators followed leads on how the COVID-19 virus affected patients, laboratory scientists focused on clues in the basic genetic information that enables the coronavirus to replicate and infect human cells.
    Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 cells

    Study offers global review of impact of COVID-19 on cancer treatment and research

    A report by researchers at Dana-Farber and other institutions suggests that while COVID-19 has complicated the treatment of cancer patients, it has also spurred creative solutions to challenges in clinical care, and research into the new disease is benefiting from insights gained over years of cancer research.
    Irene Ghobrial, MD, in her lab

    Institute Researchers Take Lead in Trials of Potential COVID-19 Therapies

    Drawing on their knowledge of cancer drug mechanisms, and of the adverse side effects of some of those drugs, Dana-Farber scientists are helping lead an array of clinical trials of potential treatments for COVID-19.
    illustration of antibodies attacking virus particles in the bloodstream

    Researchers Identify Antibodies That Could Work Against Coronavirus

    Dana-Farber researchers, with colleagues at Columbia University and the National Institutes of Health, have identified a diverse set of antibodies that effectively neutralize the coronavirus responsible for COVID-19, a key step in the development of agents to treat and prevent the disease.
    Toni Choueiri, MD

    Multinational study identifies high risk to cancer patients diagnosed with COVID-19

    A new study co-authored by Dana-Farber’s Toni Choueiri, MD, and published in The Lancet, tracks patients from a broad geographic distribution and across practice settings, and identifies risk factors unique to cancer patients.

    Steven Treon, MD, PhD

    Dana-Farber to test blood cancer drug in COVID-19 patients

    Scientists at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have launched a clinical test of a blood cancer drug in patients infected with the COVID-19 virus. The test follows several case reports in which the drug, ibrutinib, appeared to protect against lung damage and respiratory distress caused by the virus.

    diagram of stapled peptide inhibition of SARS-CoV-2

    Pioneering a 'Staple' Approach for Treating the Coronavirus (COVID-19)

    Strategies to bar the coronavirus (COVID-19) from entering cells — thereby preventing infection and averting transmission of the virus — are among the most promising treatment approaches to COVID-19. A novel approach called "stapled peptides" has been pioneered by Dana-Farber's Loren Walensky, MD, PhD, and his colleagues.

    diagram of over 50,000 protein-protein interactions

    Scientists produce a reference map of human protein interactions, releasing data helpful for understanding diseases including cancer and infectious diseases such as COVID-19

    Dana-Farber researcher Marc Vidal, PhD, is part of a collaborative team that has created a reference map of over 50,000 protein-protein interactions that provides information to help scientists better understand how faulty genes cause diseases such as cancer, and how viruses (such as the coronavirus that causes COVID-19) interact with their host human proteins.

    Wayne Marasco, MD, PhD

    Dana-Farber Researchers at Forefront of Development of Antibody Therapy for COVID-19

    As scientists race to develop and test new treatments for COVID-19, Dana-Farber’s Wayne Marasco, MD, PhD, and his lab team are bringing one of the world's most formidable resources to the effort: a "library" of 27 billion human antibodies against viruses, bacteria, and other bodily invaders.

  • Additional Information about COVID-19 Research at Dana-Farber

    Dana-Farber staff member holding a COVID-19 vaccine.
    Insight Blog
    8/17/2021

    COVID-19 Booster Shots for Most Cancer Patients: What to Know

    • COVID-19
    Insight Blog
    7/1/2021

    What is a Cytokine Storm?

    • COVID-19
    • CAR T-Cell Therapy
    Insight Blog
    5/6/2021

    Vaccines Help Some COVID-19 ‘Long Haulers,’ But Lingering Symptoms Remain a Mystery

    • COVID-19
    • Research
    Insight Blog
    4/12/2021

    mRNA Takes Center Stage in COVID-19 Vaccine and Cancer Research

    • Research
    Insight Blog
    6/22/2020

    What Researchers Need to Learn About COVID-19 — And How You Can Help

    • Research
    Insight Blog
    5/26/2020

    COVID-19 Antibody Tests: What We Know and What We Don’t

    • COVID-19
    • Research
    Insight Blog
    5/22/2020

    The Impact of COVID-19 on Childhood Cancer Research

    • COVID-19
    Bruce Johnson, MD,
    Insight Blog
    5/14/2020

    Dana-Farber Clinical Research Stays on Track During COVID-19

    • COVID-19
    • Research