The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is strengthening research into the long-term effects of COVID-19. Among the ten research projects for which the BMBF is providing a total of 6.5 million euros are two research projects led by DZL scientists.
There is still no clear, universally accepted definition that describes long-COVID or post-COVID syndrome. It is estimated that about 10 percent of people infected with SARS-CoV-2 experience long-term symptoms that can last several weeks or months ("long-COVID" or "post-COVID syndrome"). The most common late symptoms include extreme fatigue, headaches, poor concentration, shortness of breath, and loss of sense of smell and taste. Two projects by DZL scientists are investigating the possible long-term effects of COVID-19 and are funded by the BMBF with nearly 1.7 million euros until 2023. In total, the BMBF is providing 6.5 million euros to support research projects on the late symptoms of COVID-19.
Persistent respiratory distress after COVID-19
The project PulmVask-COVID-ISIE (Pulmonary Vascular Dysfunction as a Therapeutic Approach to Persistent Exertional Dyspnea after COVID-19 - Identification of Simple Diagnostic Parameters and Symptom-Oriented Therapy) investigates pulmonary diseases after SARS-CoV-2 infection. This is being done under the direction of DZL scientist PD Dr. Natascha Sommer of the Medical Clinic II at the University Hospital Giessen together with DZL researchers Prof. Dr. Martin Witzenrath of the Charité Berlin, Prof. Dr. Tobias Welte of the Hannover Medical School and PD Dr. Katrin Milger-Kneidinger of the University of Munich. After COVID-19 disease, some patients suffer from persistent shortness of breath - without signs of structural lung disease. This complicates not only diagnosis but also causal research. However, recent studies suggest that - similar to acute COVID-19 disease - persistent breathlessness is also due to changes in the pulmonary vasculature. Reliable diagnostics as well as approaches to treat these changes are currently lacking. The PulmVask-COVID-ISIE project aims to change this. The researchers are also testing the effectiveness of a therapy in which patients inhale a vasodilator drug.
Understanding molecular relationships
The goal of the SAPCRiN (Sample Analysis for Post COVID Research in NAPKON) project is to characterize the molecular changes that occur during COVID-19 infection and, in the process, determine whether these changes are related to the development of post-COVID syndrome (PCS). DZL researcher Prof. Thomas Illig, MD, of Hannover Medical School, is leading the study. The study is led together with DZL researchers Dr. Verena Kopfnagel, also from Hannover Medical School, Dr. Christian Gieger and Dr. Gabriele Anton from Helmholtz Zentrum München, Prof. Dr. Soni Pullamsetti from Justus Liebig University Giessen, Prof. Martin Witzenrath from Charité Berlin, Prof. Dr. Stefan Schreiber from the University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, DZIF scientist Dr. Jörg-Janne Vehreschild and Prof. Dr. Peter Heuschmann from the University Hospital Würzburg. By analyzing multi-OMICs data in combination with clinical and follow-up health data from NAPKON patients, the researchers seek to identify regulatory genes and molecular pathways involved in the development and maintenance of PCS. This knowledge may help identify potential prognostic markers as well as potential treatments for PCS.
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Source: Karliczek: 10 Forschungsverbünde zu den Spätfolgen von Covid-19 gehen an den Start
