AUSTIN, Texas — Vaccinations are the frontline defense against COVID-19, and infusion centers to treat COVID are popping up across the state.

There are more options becoming available to Texans in the fight against the virus, and some of the major research into these treatments is happening right here in Texas.

Mike Woods lives in Austin, but he spent a lot of time traveling for work. He’s taking a break from the Texas heat to lace up his skates and hit the ice for a little “training” with his friend.

“This just seems like something cool to do,” said Woods. 

This was an activity he couldn’t do when he got COVID last year. Instead, he volunteered his sick body for science. Woods was part of a clinical trial for monoclonal antibody treatments, a simple procedure consisting of a one-hour IV infusion. 

“They do all the lab work and everything, they do it at home,” he said. 

After getting the infusion of monoclonal antibodies, nurses would come to his house to test his blood. It’s a double blind study where neither the nurses nor Woods knew if he was given a placebo.

“It was probably one of the best health care experiences I’ve had in a long time,” he said. 

Dr. Robert Gottlieb is the man behind that research.

"A lot of patients with COVID wanted to feel like they were helping others,” he said. 

He’s the principal investigator for COVID-19 therapeutic trials at Baylor Scott and White in Dallas. 

“Trials are absolutely pivotal, especially early on,” Dr. Gottlieb said. 

He says these clinical trials have proven the treatments reduce the risk of severe symptoms, hospitalizations, and in some cases, even death. 

“We can decrease the risk of hospitalization by approximately 87%,” he said.

The FDA has approved three major manufacturers for emergency use authorization.

“This preserves the ability to both maintain equity for right now and also helps us remain one step ahead of the virus,” Dr. Gottlieb said. 

The problem, Dr. Gottlieb says, is this work is labor intensive and now that the treatment is widely distributed across the United States, supplies are limited. That's partly because people are using monoclonal antibody treatments as a replacement to the vaccine, which is the first line of defense against COVID. 

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” he said.

Dr. Gottlieb says antibody therapy will block the response to vaccination, so patients must wait 90 days for the treatment to leave the body before getting a vaccination. If you are already vaccinated and get COVID, people can still be eligible for monoclonal treatment. 

Gov. Greg Abbott’s office is announcing new infusion center locations almost daily. Clinics, public health centers and hospitals like Baylor Scott & White are one of the many facilities offering this treatment. You can find a location near you, here.

And all this is possible because of volunteers like Woods. 

“It’s kind of a way of almost giving back,” he said. “If people don’t volunteer and step up and we can’t evaluate these different treatment methods, then how are we going to know what works and doesn’t work?” 

He’s still waiting to find out if he got the treatment or the placebo, but it’s all smooth skating knowing he was able to make a difference.