Following the initiative taken under the directives from His Excellency Lieutenant General Dr Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, Chairman of the Supreme Council of Health and Head of the National Taskforce for Combating Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Major General (Prof) Khalid Bin Ali Al Khalifa, Head of Research and Director of Royal Medical Services, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - Medical University of Bahrain (RCSI Bahrain) recently issued the results of its first National Clinical Trial. The trial, conducted in collaboration with the Bahrain Defence Force Hospital (BDF) and the Ministry of Health, aimed to enhance the treatment protocols for COVID-19 patients.

The clinical trial entailed taking antibody-rich plasma (convalescent plasma therapy), which has been donated by subjects that have recovered from COVID-19, and injecting it into 20 patients who are severely suffering from COVID-19 to see if it will reduce the severity of the disease. The results were compared to those of 20 patients who did not receive injections and were provided with standard care.

The clinical trial was conducted by a team including senior members of RCSI Bahrain namely RCSI Bahrain’s President, Professor Sameer Otoom, Professor Stephen Atkin, Head of the School of Postgraduate Studies and Research and Professor Manaf Alqahtani, Professor of Microbiology-Infectious Disease and Clinical Microbiology.

The results of the trial revealed the safety of using convalescent plasma therapy, with overall outcomes showing little difference between those who were given and those who did not receive the convalescent plasma. However, a larger-scale study can successfully be conducted to the highest standards in the Kingdom of Bahrain to further examine the use of convalescent plasma therapy.

RCSI Bahrain President, Professor Sameer Otoom, commented: “Developing healthcare through research has always been a point of focus for RCSI Bahrain. We have always believed in the importance of collaborative research and dedicating our knowledge and resources to support the Kingdom of Bahrain’s efforts in combating the pandemic and to support healthcare on a global scale.”

RCSI Bahrain’s participation in sponsoring and establishing a National Clinical Trial are in line with the University’s continuous efforts to positively contribute to the advancement of healthcare in Bahrain and beyond.