ORCHESTRA at ECCMID: latest insights on COVID-19's long-term effects 

 

Milano, April 24 2024. ORCHESTRA, a large-scale European and international cohort research project on COVID-19 funded by the EU, will present several of its findings during the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID), which will take place in Barcelona, Spain, from 27th to 30th April 2024. 

With over 13,000 participants each year, ECCMID acts as a vital platform for specialists from diverse fields to present their latest research and experiences in these areas. “For our team, participating in ECCMID is essential for fostering new partnerships”, Evelina Tacconelli, ORCHESTRA project coordinator, says. “This year, ORCHESTRA is privileged to contribute 13 distinct research outputs to the conference's agenda, focusing on a diverse range of topics. Notably, two of these contributions have been selected for oral presentation; one of them underscores our innovative approach to analysing the risk factors and determinants of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection, commonly referred to as post-COVID syndrome (PCS)”. 

The presentations and posters will delve into several critical topics addressed by the ORCHESTRA project over the course of its 3-year duration: the exploration of the SARS-CoV-2 virus's mutations and their practical implications in guiding vaccine and therapeutic developments; the understanding of PCS and the importance of chronic inflammation in its progression, offering new pathways for patient management and treatment; the impact of COVID-19 on women; vaccine efficacy in people with HIV; the gut microbiota's role in COVID-19 severity and the development of PCS; the design of clinical trials for PCS and the necessity of establishing a Cohort Coordination Board.