WP2: We have successfully established links with and between cohorts and scientific task leaders, harmonised prospective data and sample collection, started harmonising retrospective data and established a secure data warehouse and data analysis platform. Data analysis support is available to all WPs and a code repository established.
WP3: We have developed a nimble, effective pipeline for SARS-CoV-2 genome analysis. The surveillance aspects have been broadened to encompass a variety of zoonotic threats beyond SARS-CoV-2. We are also leveraging extant travel surveillance data to design optimised surveillance schemes for a range of future infectious threats.
WP4: We have devised a new in silico model for recovering the major drivers of SARS-CoV-2 evolution, leveraging estimates of major phenotypes of interest traversing the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Our work suggests a progressive increase in both binding affinity and immune evasiveness from the early pandemic period through to the latest Omicron variants. Constructing a multi-variate phenotypic landscape allows the placing of any newly detected SARS-CoV-2 variant into a map of previously documented diversity. In tandem we have evaluated the utility of mathematical models to assess transmission fitness of different variants in different epidemiological settings.
WP5: The effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines has been assessed using multiple methods in different countries. Lab assays to measure antibody, B cell and T cell responses, including neutralizing functions, have been established and started to be applied to several longitudinal and population-based cohorts to evaluate the recognition of different SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and the immune escape. We evaluated novel serological-based approaches to detect asymptomatic reinfections and vaccine breakthroughs during the successive Omicron waves, to better assess the maintenance of immune responses, their correlation with protection against COVID-19, and their clinical and demographic determinants.
WP6: We have devised a streamlined protocol and crafted assays for assessing the cytotoxicity of antiviral drugs, featuring an adaptable framework for gauging the cytotoxic effects of newly discovered antiviral agents. An article was published, delving into the clinical and epidemiological patterns of immunosuppression observed in COVID-19 patients. We are developing a treatment-based risk prediction tool to enhance personalized interventions. A web platform is also in progress to streamline the collection and standardization of data.
WP7: We have identified Long COVID cohorts, comprising both community and clinical cohorts that represent a diverse range of global regions and demographic characteristics. We developed a Long COVID questionnaire used for ongoing prospective data collection across participating sites and implemented a harmonisation strategy. A co-production advisory group composed of experts by experience, healthcare workers, and policy makers has been recruited. We have developed plans for pooled and within-cohort analyses, and analyses of the impact of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern on risk of Long COVID are currently in preparation for publication.
WP8: We have collaborated with scholars from Europe, Africa, South America, and Asia to develop a public opinion survey and report on regional and national health regulation frameworks. The survey is being finalized and the report on regulatory frameworks will be published as a working paper soon.
WP9: An Ethics Committee for the END-VOC consortium has been established. Ethical and legal requirements for data pooling, harmonising and jointly analysing data from multiple global COVID-19 cohorts across END-VOC countries and partners have been addressed. Lessons learned from the RECODID project have been leveraged to further enhance the governance structures. Evidence on best practices and procedures on governance structures of cohort consortia has been gathered in a scientific publication. The study is approved by Heidelberg University ethics.
WP10: The END-VOC website was successfully launched and is being regularly updated with new content. Within Period 1, the website had 7,243 users (many from Spain, Kenya and the USA) and 9,607 pages viewed. We published 9 news items (5 of which involved participation by project partners) and 4 updates to the SARS-CoV-2 variants page. Communication materials (infographics) were also developed. Consortium partners contributed to disseminate END-VOC updates with more than 100 tweets. We expect to increase dissemination and translation activities as project results become available. Meanwhile, we have already started stakeholder engagement activities aimed at involving beneficiaries (e.g. long covid patients) or end-users of different project outputs (e.g. the WHO).
