10.12.2021

New project on Covid-19 and Sars-CoV-2 variants

More than 20 universities, hospitals and research centers are joining forces to provide robust, data-driven evidence to deal with SARS-CoV-2 variants and COVID-19 epidemics. The new project called "EuCARE" is coordinated by Euresist Network, and our member Nico Pfeifer is one of the main contributors in the AI work package.

The project "EuCARE: European Cohorts of Patients and Schools to Advance Response to Epidemics" will take advantage of hospital patients', vaccinated healthcare workers' and schools' large cohorts in Europe, Kenya, Mexico, Russia and Vietnam. The aim is to find answers to urgent issues related to science and society.

How do SARS-COV-2 variants, coupled with other factors, influence the clinical course of COVID-19? 
Is there any vaccine or test escape related to variants? 
Do variants influence the spread in a school setting, and if so, how? Can we define a better testing and containment strategy for the schools? What is the impact of containment measures, including school closures, on pupils and teachers?

These are some of the questions that the EuCARE study will strive to answer, with the support of strong immuno-virological and artificial intelligence components. The group of Prof. Nico Pfeifer from our Cluster is one of the main contributors in the AI work package.

The kick-off meeting in November saw the participation of 60 scientists from Europe and the world as well as of representatives of WHO in a collaboration for data sharing and standardisation. The project is funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme. For more information, please visit the project website