Researchers of Leibniz IPHT are investigating a model to predict the course of disease in Covid-19 patients. In the future, physicians will be able to plan the occupancy of intensive care beds and ventilation stations in advance. The Carl-Zeiss-Foundation supports the work from its Corona Measures Fund.

A research team led by Juergen Popp is working on profiling white blood cells using Raman spectroscopy. The goal is to develop a prognostic model of how Covid-19 will progress in patients during the first three to seven days of infection. The researchers are using a method they have developed for the diagnosis of sepsis, which also focuses on leukocytes. By analysing the body’s immune defence, they hope to gain information about the further course of the disease. The model will help to plan capacities for intensive care beds and respiratory care places in advance and to transfer patients to hospitals with free capacities in good time.

The team is developing the new approach together with Sina Coldewey, head of the junior research group Translational Septomics at the ZIK Septomics and with the intensive care physician Michael Bauer, director of the Clinic for Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine at the University Hospital Jena. The Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung supports the research work with funds from its Corona-Measurement Fund. In order to support scientists in researching solutions to overcome the corona pandemic, the foundation is providing a total of 600,000 euros. The aid package supports ten projects.

 

Supported by the Corona Measures Fund of the

The prognostic model is intended to support physicians in planning the capacities for intensive care beds.Picture: Sven Döring/ Leibniz-IPHT

The prognostic model is intended to support physicians in planning the capacities for intensive care beds.Picture: Sven Döring/ Leibniz-IPHT