Empowering patients, accelerating discoveries: A collaborative approach to characterising immune dysfunction associated with Long Covid, ME/CFS and other post-acute infection syndromes
We are a group aiming to transform the study of post-acute infection syndromes by leveraging our scientific leadership and patient-centred approach to provide access to research, education to our community, and hope to those living with these complex chronic conditions.
Pushing Crucial Local Research Forward
There is an urgent need to identify the underlying biomedical mechanisms associated with Long Covid, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), and other post-acute infection syndromes (PAIS), so that diagnostic tools and treatment options can be developed for the tens of millions of people afflicted by these debilitating conditions.
Locally we have a unique population due to our demographics and the fact that our population was highly vaccinated before infection.
DysImmune Research Aotearoa is focused on securing funding to conduct and support cutting-edge research, and accelerating understanding in this field.
Post-Acute Infection Syndromes (PAIS)
Post-Acute Infection Syndromes feature a wide range of complex conditions involving physical, cognitive, emotional and neurological difficulties that vary in severity over time, usually following an infection.
Post-Acute Infection Syndromes are often debilitating and poorly understood. The most common and well known post-viral conditions are Long Covid and ME/CFS.
Education & Community
People with lived-experience of Long Covid & ME/CFS are part of our team. We understand the importance of the patient-centred voice in research, especially when dealing with poorly understood illnesses.
We are committed to raising awareness, educating, and advocating alongside the community, with our ultimate focus on research that will help eventually access formal diagnoses and treatments.
Funding
Unlike other countries, here in Aotearoa, there has been no government-commissioned funding for biomedical research in the effort to better understand the long term impacts of COVID-19 infection, including, Long Covid. Our research funding to date has been critically dependent on crowdfunding.
We have the expertise, cutting-edge equipment and technologies, and passion to pursue this research – we now just need the resources to ensure continuity of this crucial research in Aotearoa New Zealand.
“Long Covid is devastating people’s lives and livelihoods. It needs urgent sustained investment to expand scientific understanding. This has to be global.”
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General, World Health Organisation
Together we can make a difference
Researchers at The University of Auckland are currently recruiting for a study to investigate immune and molecular markers following COVID-19 (healthy controls and Long Covid) and COVID-19 vaccination.
By signing up and participating, you will be helping investigate and understand immune dysregulation and long-term immunity, as well as the relationship of Long Covid to Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).
