COVID-19 Rapid Response Innovation Project
Understanding and predicting progression in the early stage of COVID-19 disease
The challenge
COVID-19 is characterised by an initial virological phase, with the presence of the virus associated with clinical symptoms. This is followed by an immunological phase, when there can be problems with the immune system, such as hyper-inflammation and a cytokine storm, which are associated with dangerous clinical complications like respiratory dysfunction. The factors associated with the transition to this immunological phase are not known at this stage.
The solution
COVERAGE-Immuno is a project that aims to perform in-depth, repeated evaluation of immunological markers and RNA data in COVID-19 patients who are being treated at home, to learn more about the disease. The project is embedded in an existing randomised clinical trial, called COVERAGE, that is evaluating several experimental treatments for patients at home. COVERAGE Immuno will use a technological tool that makes it possible to study a wide range of biological pathways with simple blood sampling. Coupled with innovative data science approaches, the project will be able to identify the most relevant biomarkers associated with the progression of the disease and the response to treatment at the early stage of the COVID-19 disease.
Expected impact
The COVERAGE Immuno study is expected to reveal valuable insights about how COVID-19 transitions to the more dangerous immunological phase, how to predict this phase and also the effectiveness of early treatments. This information can be used to determine the best treatments for victims of COVID-19.
EIT Health Partners
CLC/InnoStars: France
Partner classification: Research, Tech Transfer, Clusters, Other NGOs
Partner type: Core Partner
Founded in 1964, the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm) is a public scientific and technological institute which operates under the joint authority of the French Ministry of Health and French Ministry of Research. As the only French public research institute to focus entirely on human health, in 2008 Inserm took on the responsibility for the strategic, scientific and operational coordination of biomedical research. This key role as coordinator comes naturally to Inserm thanks to the scientific quality of its teams and its ability to conduct translational research, from the laboratory to the patient’s bed. Inserm plays a leading role in creating the European Research Area and boosts its standing abroad through close partnerships (teams and partner laboratories abroad). Inserm is active in many areas, such as Technologies for Health, Public Health (Cohorts, Healthcare systems), Infectious and chronic disease, Neurosciences, Cancer, and Genomics.
INSERM - French National Institute of Health and Medical Research
INSERM - French National Institute of Health and Medical Research, 101 Rue de Tolbiac, 75013 Paris, France
Key Activities in Corporate Innovation
Pharma, Med Tech, ICT, Diagnostics, Imaging, Nutrition
Key Activities in Social Innovation
Healthcare provision
Key Activities in Business Creation
Incubation, Technology Transfer
Key Activities in Education
Medical faculties, Healthcare professional education/training
CLC/InnoStars: France
Partner classification: Research
Partner type: Core Partner
Inria, the French National Institute for computer science and applied mathematics, promotes scientific excellence for technology transfer and society. 3000 researchers, nearly 200 teams, 20+% dedicated to life sciences and healthcare questions. Inria, the French National Institute for computer science and applied mathematics, promotes “scientific excellence for technology transfer and society”. Graduates from the world’s top universities, Inria's 2,700 employees rise to the challenges of digital sciences. With its open, agile model, Inria is able to explore original approaches with its partners in industry and academia and provide an efficient response to the multidisciplinary and application challenges of the digital transformation. Committed to assisting innovators, Inria provides the ideal conditions for fruitful relations between public research, private R&D and industry. Inria transfers its expertise and research results to startups, SMEs and major groups in fields as diverse as healthcare, transport, energy, communications, security and privacy protection, smart cities and the factory of the future. Inria has also fostered an entrepreneurial culture that has led to the creation of 120+ startups.
Key Activities in Corporate Innovation
ICT
Key Activities in Business Creation
Incubation, Finance & Investment, Technology Transfer
Key Activities in Education
Entrepreneurship training, Technical faculties