Our research

How does immunity to COVID-19 change over time?

TropCOVID is a Far North Queensland research study investigating how immunity to COVID-19 changes over time in adults living in our region. COVID-19 immunity is not the same for everyone. It can be shaped by vaccination, previous infection, age, health, and the natural decline of immune responses over time. By following volunteers across 12 months, TropCOVID aims to better understand the immune landscape of Far North Queensland.

Looking beyond antibodies

When people think about immunity, they often think about antibodies. Antibodies are important because they can recognise a virus and help prevent infection. However, immunity also depends on specialised immune cells called T cells. These cells can recognise infected cells and help coordinate the body’s response to infection. TropCOVID measures both antibody and T-cell responses to provide a more complete picture of how the body responds to COVID-19.

Following immunity over a year

Participants donate a small blood sample approximately every three months over 12 months and complete a brief health and vaccination questionnaire. This allows the research team to examine how immune responses change within the same person over time. We will explore whether responses remain stable, decline, or vary following vaccination, infection, or other changes in health. The study includes adults from several groups within the Far North Queensland community, including healthy adults, adults aged over 65 years, and people who work in healthcare settings.

Building a regional picture of immunity

TropCOVID will create the first detailed, long-term pictures of COVID-19 immunity in Far North Queensland. The findings may help guide future research into vaccination, emerging variants, and how communities can be better prepared for respiratory-virus outbreaks. The study will also strengthen local capacity for immunology research and support the development of future infectious-disease research in the tropics.

Research, not individual testing

TropCOVID is a research study, not a diagnostic service. Participants will receive a summary of the overall study findings when available, but individual immune-test results cannot be provided because the testing is performed for research purposes and is not clinically accredited.