COVID-19 Pandemic Research Center (CPRC)

Led by Jennifer Unger
unger@usc.edu

The survey research group will form a centralized system of collaborators for assisting investigators with all phases of survey work:

• Measurement development. Gather validated survey measures from the PhenX Toolkit (including the COVID-19 measure collection) and the published literature. Harmonize measures with previous studies by the investigator and/or the CPRC to facilitate later pooled data analysis. Develop new questions and scales as needed. Conduct pilot studies for psychometric validation of new measures. Oversee translation and back-translation of survey questions into other languages.
• Online survey development. Program online consent forms and surveys into RedCap survey software. Pilot test surveys for length and comprehensibility, revise as needed. Set up systems for online consent and assent.
• Recruitment and data collection. Recruit participants through schools, healthcare facilities, community-based organizations, other community locations, and/or social media. Track recruitment progress and initiate new recruitment methods as needed. Collect survey data and coordinate remote biospecimen collection. Process incentive payments. Track participants longitudinally by email, phone, and/or text to maintain updated contact information. Conduct follow-up surveys. Maintain a database of participants who are interested in participating in future studies.

Led by David Conti
dconti@usc.edu

The Data Science Initiative will serve as the centralized conduit linking projects with data and corresponding analyses. This includes the following tasks:

• Research Design and Analysis: Provide expertise in analytic issues related to COVID-19 in formulating research questions, selecting an appropriate study design, developing and creating databases at the stage of study planning, and formulating an analytic plan. Specific research methodologies that leverage existing strengths within the Department include observational/epidemiologic study design and analysis, longitudinal and time-series analysis, causal inference, spatial analysis, genomic analysis, network analysis, and mathematical and epidemic modeling.
• Manage Data Product Generation, Analytics, and Visualization. Data from the various study sources will be collected and aggregated. This includes data obtained from new projects within the Center, as well as aggregating existing resources. Data Science investigators will support the extracting, transforming and loading of the data into Data Science applications that are easily accessible to Center investigators via R Studio and other visualization tools. These resources will be available in “analysis ready” formats to facilitate integration and use into Center project. (Details defined, available on request).
• Methodological Research. Data Science investigators will pursue methodological research into statistical and analytic approaches to best evaluate key COVID-19 questions of interest. Examples of such projects include the use of causal modeling techniques to evaluate the impact of public health interventions, the use of multi-population epidemic models to guide policy with counterfactual scenarios or to estimate epidemic parameters for insight into the distinct disease impact across populations, and the novel use of statistical inference models to assess the impact of risk factors on disease outcomes.

Led by Andrea Kovacs
akovacs@usc.edu

The laboratory group will offer:

• In the Center’s first stage, the Laboratory Group will offer a collaborative program of (a) SARS CoV-2 diagnostic testing including qualitative and quantitative qPCR, ddPCR and COVID-19 antibody testing for subsamples of cohorts in order to generate pilot data on seroprevalence and incidence that can be used in applications for external funding; and (b) consultation and potential collaboration on the collection and biobanking of additional biological specimens by cohorts for the purpose of measuring other analytes critical to the pursuit of COVID-19 related specific aims. Plans are to evaluate established and emerging laboratory methods essential for studying SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis, treatment, and prevention.Future plans include linking biorepository specimens to clinical data of patient’s in cohorts by specific demographic and clinical characteristics.
• The MCA laboratory has developed sensitive and specific assays to detect SARS-CoV in respiratory samples and is developing assays to detect the virus in plasma, PBMCs, stool, urine and other body fluids. The lab has extensive experience in in-house diagnostic development of PCR and antibody assays for other viruses including HIV, CMV, EBV and HCV. The lab works with many diagnostic companies in developing assays. Serology will be conducted using the Luminex IgG, IgM and IgA test, which has been authorized by the FDA under Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) and can differentiate between vaccine and natural infection antibody and has the ability to be quantitative.
• The MCA laboratory maintains certifications with CLIA, California State, and undergoes proficiency testing with CAP. The lab also has certifications from the NIH NIAID Virology Quality Assurance Program (VQA) and Immunology Quality Assurance Program (IQA) that includes advanced Flow Cytometry. The lab is divided into four areas: 1) virology 2) molecular biology, 3) immunology, and 4) specimen processing and storage. It has been the central laboratory for large-scale, complex national studies that require testing of very large numbers of samples with short-turnaround times. Expertise includes virology and immunology for HIV, cytomegalovirus (CMV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) and now SARS-CoV-2.

Led by Lourdes Baezconde Garbanati
baezcond@usc.edu

The health behavior research group is the behavioral arm of the Center, with a focus on development of research to advance our understanding of the behavioral aspects of pandemics, epidemics, and other major threats to society. Investigators from the Center have a particular interest in risk, health safety behaviors and mitigation behaviors related to COVID-19, other epidemic and pandemic related behaviors and the impact of these behaviors in diverse populations.

• The Behavioral Research Group seeks to advance the scientific understanding of the interrelationships among sociodeterminants of health, behavioral, biological and psychosocial aspects of multipopulation epidemic risk behaviors at multiple levels. Research may include but is not limited to public attitudes, behaviors and beliefts related to pandemics and epidemics, population safety, understanding feasibility of implementation of regulations, compliance and enforcement of government mandates and restrictions in a pandemic, most effective ways of communicating with the public, better understanding of vaccine and testing hesitancy, mechanisms to reduce preventable deaths, and identification of ways to support communities to do what is needed to save lives in times of uncertainty. Other areas may include diversity, community, addictions, health, data, community education, and developing educational tool kits, and measurements of behaviors.
• In addition, the Behavioral Research Group investigators are interested in the development and testing of innovative interventions at the community level to support reductions in morbidity and mortality among racial/ethnically and culturally diverse populations at the time of COVID-19 and other pandemics.

LaVonna B. Lewis, PhD, MPH
Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, USC Sol Price School of Public Policy
 llewis@price.usc.edu

LaVonna Blair Lewis, Ph.D., MPH, is the Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy. Dr. Lewis joined the USC faculty in 1996 from Rice University where she received her PhD in Political Science. Dr. Lewis’ areas of research and professional interests consistently focus on cultural competency and health equity, both targeting the health status and health care needs of underrepresented groups. Her work has appeared in the American Journal of Public Health, Family and Community Health, the American Journal of Health Behavior, Social Science and Medicine, the Journal of General Internal Medicine, and other health management and policy journals. All of the work to date has employed a community based participatory research framework that partners with the relevant stakeholder groups in developing the research questions.

Colin Diaz
President & CEO, Culver City Chamber of Commerce
 colin@culvercitychamber.com

Colin has over 20 years of management, marketing, sales and community outreach experience. His past ventures have spanned the sports, entertainment, education, hospitality and chamber sectors. In his current role as the President/CEO of the Culver City Chamber, Colin serves as the face of business in his community, representing small and multi-national companies by providing advocacy, business resources and relationship building opportunities. He brings an impressive educational background with an MBA from Duke University and an MFA for Chapman University. As the head of the Culver City Chamber for the past 3+ years, Colin uses a blend of his professional, personal and educational experience in his efforts to grow reach, elevate the chamber brand to others and protect the reputation of the Chamber. During his tenure, the Chamber and City have seen significant business growth and expansion into new industries.

Brian Hui, PhD
Director of Research & Evaluation, Special Service for Groups, Inc.
 hui@ssg.org

Brian Hui a community-based scholar-practitioner who believes that research practice should inform public policy and guide community transformation. In the last 12 years, he has worked in a variety of roles in non-profit leadership, providing services for basic needs, public benefits, housing, immigration, healthcare navigation, cultural development, leadership development, and policy advocacy. Additionally, he has led community research teams in community based participatory research projects studying public health risk factors and interventions among Pacific Islander communities in Southern California, including several NIH funded RO1 studies.  Brian leads the SSG Research & Evaluation Team, which provides values-driven evaluation services to public agencies, foundations and community-based organizations, while also continuing to provide technical assistance to make research and evaluation accessible to nonprofit organizations working in diverse California communities.  He also serves as the Administrator for SSG’s Community IRB.

Laura Mosqueda, MD
Professor of Family Medicine and Geriatrics (Tenure)
 laura.mosqueda@med.usc.edu

Dr. Laura Mosqueda is a professor of Family Medicine and Geriatrics at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. She is a widely respected authority on geriatric and family medicine, elder abuse, and care of the elderly and underserved. She is also an expert on medical education curricula design, development, and implementation. Before joining USC, she served 16 years at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) School of Medicine. Dr. Mosqueda is the co-director of the National Center on Elder Abuse, a federally-funded initiative that serves as the nation’s coordinating body and clearinghouse for information on research, training, best practices, news, and resources on elder abuse. As a family physician and geriatrician, researcher, educator, and academic administrator, she has a unique perspective that is informed by her extensive experiences in the community.

Bonnie Olsen, PhD
Vice Chair for Research, Department of Family Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine at USC
 bonnie.olsen@med.usc.edu

Bonnie Olsen, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist with extensive experience as a geropsychologist working in academic medicine. In her clinical role she provides cognitive assessment in an interprofessional geriatric primary care setting. As the Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Family Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine at USC, Dr. Olsen is principal investigator in several research and program grants that support interprofessional geriatric education and elder abuse prevention and response. She has expertise related to elder abuse in the context of dementia, assessment of capacity, and the intersection of elder abuse and the Court. She has been a member of the Judicial Council of California, Mental Health & Probate Committee since 2019 and has remained dedicated to community service throughout her career.

Edward Zuniga, Ed.D.
Superintendent, El Monte Union High School District
 edward.zuniga@emuhsd.org