International Conference Addresses Long COVID Mechanisms and Research Challenges
The inaugural conference of the International Society for Long COVID and Post-Acute Infection Syndromes (ISLC-PAIS) recently convened in Amsterdam, bringing together researchers, clinicians, and advocates. The four-day event focused on the broad range of proposed biomedical mechanisms underlying Long COVID, including viral persistence, immunological dysregulation, autoimmunity, neurological disruptions, and vascular damage. Presenters acknowledged that previous clinical trials have yielded disappointing results and emphasized the need for more precisely designed 'mechanistic trials' that target specific pathological pathways. The conference also highlighted the innovative use of electronic wearables and remote monitoring to improve research and accurately track biological events, such as post-exertional malaise (PEM). A new U.S. Department of Defense-funded program, PROBE-PASC, was announced, which will focus on mechanistic trials for Long COVID, with an initial trial testing the monoclonal antibody Pemgar...
