Human Epidemiology and Response to SARS-CoV-2 Study (HEROS)

The Human Epidemiology and Response to SARS-CoV-2 (HEROS) study was a prospective surveillance study that followed children already enrolled in NIH-funded studies, along with their household contacts. Its central aim was to determine the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection, measured by detection of viral RNA in nasal secretions, among children and their families. By embedding SARS-CoV-2 monitoring into existing cohorts, the study leveraged well-characterized populations to capture infection risk, transmission dynamics within households, and host responses in real-world settings. Beyond incidence, HEROS addressed several key objectives: comparing infection rates and antibody responses in children with asthma or atopic disease versus those without, characterizing nasal transcriptomic changes associated with SARS-CoV-2 detection, and identifying airway gene expression patterns that may predispose to infection. The study also evaluated how other respiratory viral infections influenced susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2. Collectively, HEROS provided an integrated framework for linking infection risk, transmission, immune response, and airway biology, with particular emphasis on vulnerable populations such as children with asthma and allergic disease.]]>