Research projects, Cooperation agreements

A new project to investigate the role of molecular mechanisms of sex hormone metabolism in Long COVID started on July 1, 2023. The research team consists of Professor Dr. Gülşah Gabriel from the Leibniz Institute of Virology (LIV) / University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (TiHo), physicians from the Hannover Medical School (MHH) as well as other scientists from the TiHo. The project is part of fourteen interdisciplinary Lower Saxony cooperation projects of the COVID-19 Research Network Lower Saxony (COFONI) and is financially supported by the state of Lower Saxony with more than seven million Euros.

Already during the acute phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection, it could be observed that male sex is associated with disease severity as compared to female sex. In previous studies, Professor Gabriel and her team have found evidence that sex hormones such as testosterone or estradiol may play a role in the development of disease severity. Now they would like to explore these relationships in more detail also in the context of Long COVID.

Dr. Isabell Pink from the MHH, Prof. Dr. Franziska Richter Assêncio and Prof. Dr. Lothar Kreienbrock from the TiHo will form an interdisciplinary research team together with Prof. Gabriel. With their expertise in virology, pneumology, pharmacology and epidemiology, they will help to build a comprehensive picture of the relationship between sex hormone metabolism and Long COVID.

The results of this study may provide important insights to develop targeted therapeutic approaches for patients with Long COVID. Prof. Gabriel, Head of the Department Viral Zoonoses - One Health at LIV and University Professor at the TiHo Hannover emphasizes the importance of the project: "The gender differences in COVID-19 disease are an important field of research. We hope that our studies on sex hormone metabolism will help to develop better treatment strategies for people with Long COVID."

The project "Role of Sex Hormone Metabolism in Long COVID" is another part of the COVID-19 Research Network Lower Saxony (COFONI), which is dedicated to studying the long-term consequences of COVID-19 disease.

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Wissenschaftlicher Ansprechpartner:
Prof. Gülşah Gabriel
guelsah.gabriel@leibniz-liv.de
Leibniz Institute of Virology, Hamburg
University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (TiHo)

Dr. Isabell Pink
Pink.Isabell@mh-hannover.de
Hannover Medical School (MHH)

Prof. Dr. Franziska Richter Assêncio
franziska.richter@tiho-hannover.de
University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (TiHo)

Prof. Dr. Lothar Kreienbrock
Lothar.Kreienbrock@tiho-hannover.de
University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (TiHo)