Launch of the German Federal Ministry of Health's Long COVID research network

On 10.02.2025, the German Federal Ministry of Health launched a coordination network for Long COVID research by hosting the first meeting of the 30 projects selected for the funding priority ‘Researching and strengthening needs-based healthcare for the long-term consequences of COVID-19 (Long COVID)’. 

Projects with a total volume of 73 million euros were approved for the ongoing 2024 to 2028 funding priority for care-related research. 30 projects were awarded funding as part of a competitive selection process and have now started work. The funding priority is divided into several modules, which will be dedicated to integrated or coordinated healthcare, innovations in healthcare (e.g. wearables) and research into the healthcare situation and disease progression.

The event also featured a soon-to-be-launched network of model projects for the healthcare of children and adolescents with Long COVID.

The aim of the networks is to develop and share research findings on the treatment of Long COVID, including ME/CFS, so that they can be incorporated into healthcare in a timely manner. Similarly, data from healthcare should also be shared with the researchers. 

A coordination centre based at the ‘Technology and Methods Platform for Networked Medical Research e. V.’ (TMF) is tasked with coordinating the funded projects.