Clinical characterisation for biomarker discovery

Project description

The causes of ME/CFS and ME/CFS-like symptoms that occur following a SARS-CoV-2 infection are not well understood. As a result, the options for therapeutic clinical treatment of patients are limited. There are large gaps in knowledge because hardly any tissue samples from those affected are available and comparisons with defined control groups are difficult to make.

It can be assumed that a significant proportion of people suffering from ME/CFS have post-infectious dysregulation of the innate immune system and deregulated neurotransmitter metabolism. The SERIMM research network therefore aims to shed light on indications of altered serotonin metabolism and dysregulation of the immune system. To this end, samples from patient cohorts and COVID-19 animal models will be examined in parallel using high-throughput analysis methods. In this way, changes in the brain, for example, can be examined in detail and healthy and diseased individuals can be better compared.

The work planned by the Charité - University Medicine Berlin will include characterising clinical cohorts and analysing human biosamples using methods such as single-cell sequencing and immunophenotyping. This work is intended to make an important contribution to a better understanding of the pathophysiology of ME/CFS and thus help to better understand the pathophysiology of tissue and immune system changes in ME/CFS. Furthermore, ME/CSF-specific biomarkers are to be discovered and the mechanistic studies in animal models are to create the scientific basis to allow the testing of active substances and other treatment modalities for ME/CFS in preclinical models in the future, as well as to contribute to the development of biomarkers and new therapeutic approaches.

(Description adapted from project website: see link above)