Intensify and continue TB Sequel activities and outcomes in the Covid 19 pandemic period (EnhanceTBSequel).

In general, the activities planned in this project primarily serve to achieve the scientific as well as technical (e.g. training of scientific staff in Africa and development of scientific infrastructure) objectives of the TB Sequel study. A major focus of this proposal is the integration and funding of measures and data collection to address the new epidemiological situation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the TB Sequel Network researchers and research teams see the additional funding as a unique opportunity to be able to investigate relevant scientific questions on covid-19 in a huge African cohort, including the interaction of covid-19 and TB, but also to support promising pilot studies on post-TB lung disease (PTLD) and new ideas of young researchers developed during the implementation of the study and in the context of newly developed research collaborations between the participating research partners in recent years. Thus, with this request for additional funding, the TB Sequel Network also aims to lay the groundwork for future research proposals that build on the data and findings from TB Sequel (and the accompanying Covid 19 research) and that aim to develop new strategies and/or therapeutic interventions for the prevention, treatment and supportive care of PTLD.