Human Mucosal Immune System Model Guiding Treatment Choices in COVID-19

The elderly and people with weakened immune systems can still become seriously ill or even die from the coronavirus. In addition, up to 15% of people who have recovered from a COVID-19 infection develop a chronic condition also called 'long COVID'. Common symptoms of this condition include persistent (3 months or more) fatigue, shortness of breath, or headache. Long COVID symptoms can affect daily functioning. Treatment options for both acute COVID-19 and long COVID are limited. The researchers will develop a cell platform consisting of airway cells and blood from lung COVID patients. Instead of using animal models, this platform will help test the efficacy and safety of existing and new medicines for the treatment of (lung) COVID-19. This model offers the opportunity to predict individual drug response and develop a tailor-made effective therapeutic intervention.