LongCARE – Platform for Integrated Long-COVID Care And REsearch

With the LongCARE project (Platform for Integrated Long-COVID Care and Research), a coordination office is being established to manage 29 projects nationwide and provide an overall evaluation of the funding focus. The coordination office will be primarily run by the TMF The Network of University Medicine (NUM) is closely involved as a partner, as well as the Workgroup of Scientific Medical Societies (AWMF). The supported projects aim to improve the healthcare of those affected by Long COVID by further researching the disease, developing care approaches, expanding existing methods, and consolidating expertise. The coordination office will build a sustainable network and communication structure, connect expertise, organize the professional exchange of the projects, and support the establishment of common standards. The funder of the coordination office and the 29 projects is the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG) through its funding focus on the "Research and Strengthening of Demand-Oriented Care for the Long-Term Effects of COVID-19 (Long COVID)".

Activities and Progress 2024

• Start of the funding and project period for the coordination project "LongCARE" to establish an exchange platform for 29 projects working on Long COVID
• Initial meeting of the LongCARE project team and responsible parties from the Federal Ministry of Health and the project sponsor, the German Aerospace Center (DLR)
• Start of organizing a kick-off meeting at the Federal Ministry of Health for the first introduction and networking of the projects

Activities and Progress 2025

• Kick-off meeting in February 2025 and start of the operational work of the projects
• Establishment of a steering committee and implementation of network governance
• Formation of workgroups on various collaboration topics among the projects
• Exchange with the projects of the funding focus on children and adolescents

Outlook for 2025

• Identification and handling of initial common topics for exchange and harmonization
• Establishment of network governance
• Tendering and awarding of the overall evaluation of the funding focus through subcontracting
• Creation of a communication platform, including the network website, logo, and newsletter

D161-01 LongCARE

Project Leader: Sebastian C. Semler (TMF)
Project Duration: 11/24 – 12/28
Funding Amount (TMF Share): 3.983.303 €
Funder: Bundesministerium für Gesundheit (BMG)
Funding Identifier: 2524FSB093