Therapeutics
CZECRIN: support for COVID-19 clinical studies
The Czech National Node to the European Clinical Research Infrastructure Network (CZECRIN) offers its support, services and expertise to all research-oriented physicians, with the aim of involving its forces in quick access to initiate national and especially transnational clinical trials. CZECRIN launched a dedicated website (available in Czech), to inform not only the professional, but also the non-expert public, about all ongoing and planned activities towards clinical research. Moreover, the NATIONAL CTUs NETWORK, a unit of CZECRIN, has been mapping the interest of healthcare facilities participating in the individual clinical trials focusing on the treatment of patients with the COVID-19 disease, which can be found on this website. In addition, the RI initiated the international study CZECRIN COVID-19, in collaboration with the Slovak SLOVACRIN network, aimed at evaluating the efficacy and safety of the combination of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin in hospitalized patients with acute respiratory impairment requiring oxygen therapy. Furthermore, CZECRIN will offer research capacity and administrative support to other facilities to battle COVID-19.
GSI/FAIR researchers in the battle against COVID-19
The GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung and the Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research (GSI/FAIR) develops innovative research strategies to support the fight against the current COVID-19 pandemic. The Biophysics Department plans to inactivate the virus with high-energy heavy ions in order to develop vaccines in cooperation with the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI). In addition, the therapeutic effect of low-dose radiation against pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2 is currently being investigated. The Materials Research Department is working on membranes made of nanopores for improved and fast virus detection and for the development of tailored membranes for viral filtration masks.
NANBIOSIS: Rapid access for biomedical product development
The Infrastructure for the Production and Characterization of Nanomaterials, Biomaterials and Systems in Biomedicine (NANBIOSIS) provides rapid access for COVID-19 research. It offers preclinical stages services of biomedical product development. Specifically, synthesis and preparation of biomolecules like antibodies, peptides, recombinant proteins, oligonucleotides for diagnostic, therapeutic and prophylactic purposes.
ECRIN: Fast-track access to clinical study support
The European Clinical Research Infrastructure (ECRIN) provides support to the planning and design of multinational clinical studies, and operational services to the management of the trial. In the COVID-19 context, ECRIN develops a fast-track procedure for access to, and provision of services. After supporting investigators and sponsors in designing and planning the trial (including on the regulatory and ethical context), ECRIN provides operational support to the sponsors for the management of the multinational trial, including ethical, regulatory and data protection approvals, vigilance, data monitoring anddata management services (through ECRIN-certified data centres).
As part of the Alliance of Medical Infrastructures with BBMRI and EATRIS, ECRIN also offers a Fast Response Service for researchers.
EU-OPENSCREEN: Access to pilot compound library
EU-OPENSCREEN and its partner sites are actively involved in the study of SARS-CoV-2, aiming to identify therapeutics and search for diagnostics. EU-OPENSCREEN provides a fast access track for scientist wishing to use their pilot compound library for their COVID-19 related research activities.
EATRIS: Biomedical research resources
The research resources of European Infrastructure for Translational Medicine (EATRIS) are highly relevant for the research community in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, and has created an inventory of all related research activities underway at EATRIS facilities.
As part of the Alliance of Medical Infrastructures with BBMRI and ECRIN, EATRIS also offers a Fast Response Service for researchers.