This year has seen a significant increase in the attention, public concern, and enormous economic and human cost of post-viral illnesses, with an estimated 1 in 10 people experiencing Long Covid following COVID-19 adding to those already suffering ME/CFS. Unfortunately, this has not translated to an increase in the research and funding here in New Zealand to address this increasing and urgent need. Specifically, there has not yet been any significant investment in biomedical studies.
These studies are urgent. Much of this research may be considered high-risk or exploratory but given there have now been over 10,000 publications related to the long-term harms of COVID-19, these risks are informed, calculated, but above all, are worth taking.
We can’t afford to wait. Millions impacted by these illnesses cannot afford to wait. Millions have already spent years, decades being neglected, forgotten, dismissed, marginalised. We must break this cycle and invest in the research.
Background
Why does the immune system malfunction? Already research is beginning to reveal the similarities between persisting symptoms following COVID-19 illness and ME/CFS. Immune dysfunction is likely to be central to or tightly associated with most if not all the hypothesised causes of Long Covid (e.g. autoimmunity, poor/dysfunctional immunity, viral persistence with or without reactivation of underlying latent viruses, vascular damage (blood vessels) and disrupted coagulation (blood clotting) systems.
Mounting evidence suggests that many with Long Covid may have experienced a poor or dysfunctional immune response which warrants deeper investigation. Therefore, characterising the immune response in those that recover versus those that progress to the post-viral condition may be critical to understanding the associated immune dysfunction and the relationship to ME/CFS.
Our local research is focused on unpacking the immune dysfunction experienced by those with Long Covid with the aim of understanding the relationship to ME/CFS – the more common but still poorly understood post-viral condition. Diagnostic tests and treatment options for both these conditions are sorely needed.
Research Activity
Community support has helped us with the launch of the study and establishment of a suite of specialised immune tests for those with Long Covid and ME/CFS. This will not only benefit New Zealanders – this study will have a significant influence internationally too.
One key development that occurred in late 2022 was the extension of the study to include people with ME/CFS, as well as known and probable (undiagnosed) Long Covid. This was incredibly important given the similarities between these illnesses and the urgent need to include previously neglected patient groups in this important work.
One of the goals over the next year is to assess utility of at-home blood and saliva sampling kits, particularly given many living with these illnesses are house-bound or find attending appointments difficult. We hope to at least gather preliminary data to better understand the logistics and utility of this approach alongside traditional blood draw sampling methods.
In collaboration with the team at Auckland Cytometry, our team have been working on developing a number of advanced immune cell profiling tools (high dimensional spectral flow cytometry panels) which will enable us to perform complex analyses to determine whether a ‘signature’ of immune dysfunction can be uncovered. The team have also been collaborating with a NZ-based Research and Development company, Pictor Ltd, to better understand COVID-19 antibody responses in people with Long Covid.
The team are only in the early stages of developing various immune tests, and still have a lot of work to do, but are excited about the year ahead. Other areas the team will be focussing on include investigating the link between viral reactivation (latent viruses), mitochondrial function and immune dysfunction in these patient groups.
As we head into 2023, my lab is excited to welcome a number of post-graduate students. The first to join the lab is Lina, an MSc student visiting from the University of Strasbourg in France who will undertake an internship to help advance these studies. Three other students (2 x PhD and 1 MSc) are also on track to start in the coming months.
This work would not be possible without the generous support of our community donors.