The HEALP junior research group “Health after post-infection” is dedicated to researching the medium- and long-term health consequences of infections and vaccinations. The focus is particularly on post-COVID and post-vaccination syndrome, but also on the long-known disease ME/CFS. The aim is to better understand the underlying biological mechanisms and develop objective diagnostic options. A central component of the work is biomarker studies to identify characteristic changes in the immune system and metabolism. In combination with data from registry studies, this should provide important insights into the diseases. An integrative approach to interventions and methods will be used to develop optimal therapies for those affected. The findings will contribute to the development of targeted therapeutic approaches.

IMPROVE (Identification of Biomarkers for Post Viral and Post Vac Diseases)

The aim of the project is to develop a fundamentally improved understanding of post-vaccination syndrome, a complex disease that can be triggered by vaccinations with or without prior viral infection or by a combination of several factors.

In close collaboration with the Post-Vac Outpatient Clinic of the 威尼斯赌博游戏_威尼斯赌博app-【官网】 Outpatient Clinic for Environmental 威尼斯赌博游戏_威尼斯赌博app-【官网】icine and the associated REFORME registry, typical biomarkers that correlate with pronounced symptoms will be identified. On this basis, we aim to develop predictive markers with prognostic relevance.

At the same time, patients with post-vaccination and post-COVID syndrome will be examined comparatively at the cellular and immunological level. The aim is to gain a better understanding of key pathomechanisms—a crucial step toward developing targeted and personalized therapies in the future.

One thing is clear: developing effective treatment approaches will take several years, sometimes even decades. But without a scientifically sound starting point, it will never be possible to understand these diseases at the molecular level, decipher disease-relevant signaling pathways, and derive therapeutically useful target structures. This is the only way to develop long-term effective and specific therapies.

By looking at post-vaccination and post-COVID diseases together, we're getting a comprehensive picture of the long-term biological and clinical effects after infection and/or vaccination for the first time—which is key for future medical care.

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REFORME (Resilience, Research, Rehabilitation, and Mechanisms of Recovery)

The aim of the study is to implement a registry that collects data from individuals suffering from health impairments in the sense of post-vaccination symptoms triggered by vaccinations or viral infections or a combination of several factors. The registry aims to stratify existing data, identify biomarkers, and develop predictive models for the prevention and targeted treatment of post-vaccination syndrome.

The research project will focus in particular on the stratification of patients. This stratification will be carried out through careful categorization, in which patients will be divided into subgroups based on various variables. These variables include specific symptoms, the severity of the disease, existing biomarkers, and the individual course of the disease. A key objective of this categorization is to identify patterns and correlations that could indicate specific risk groups. These findings are crucial for identifying patient groups that may be at increased risk of developing or worsening post-vaccination syndrome.