POINT second newsletter is out

We are happy to be back with the second newsletter of POINT.  Here you will find news and updates about the project, information about events, resources and materials available to download, and much more.

For those who are new to the project, POINT is an EU-funded initiative that aims to understand and address the long-term health risks for people who have had COVID-19. Even after recovering from the initial illness, many individuals face an increased risk of developing serious conditions such as heart, lung, or kidney problems months or even years later. Through advanced biomarkers and a virtual twin model, POINT seeks to predict future health complications, develop standardized guidelines for healthcare professionals, and bridge the gap between scientific discoveries and their practical application in clinical settings. The project’s ultimate goal is to gain a comprehensive understanding of the post-acute phase of COVID-19 and to equip healthcare providers with the tools and guidelines necessary to effectively manage patients.

Researchers across Greece, Denmark, and Estonia are studying the long-term effects of COVID-19 on lung, heart, and kidney function using biobank data and clinical follow-ups. In Greece, patients undergo repeated assessments with biological sampling and health tests. Denmark is analysing clinical data and samples from individuals previously hospitalized with suspected COVID-19. Estonia contributes large-scale e-health data to explore links between Long COVID and chronic diseases. Analysis of immune markers revealed that while general inflammation decreases over time, individuals with Long COVID display early low-grade inflammation followed by signs of immune suppression, suggesting a distinct immune dysfunction.Our team is building and leveraging state-of-the-art human organ models to unravel how circulating factors drive tissue stress after COVID-19. During the first year, we established 2D cell lines and 3D organoids of kidney, cardiovascular and lungs, under standardized, literature-benchmarked protocols. Using national health and population registers, the team is  linking information across different data sources thanks to Denmark’s unique personal ID system. By doing so, they track chronic disease development patterns over time with novel and translational approaches to other populations. The current model includes health data from over 4 million adults, both from before and during the pandemic, making it possible to compare trends across age, gender, and social factors. At this stage in the project, a rigid model for defining and refining the large dataset is the prime target, which will support POINT’ future in-depth studies into how COVID-19 have influenced the development or progression of NCDs.

 To identify circulating factors linked to the post-acute phase of COVID-19, researchers compiled a comprehensive internal database of public datasets covering acute, post-acute, and Long COVID phases. A comparative proteomic analysis focused on early recovery stages revealed bioindicators that distinguish between different disease phases and patient groups, including those with and without comorbidities. Further pathway analysis showed that key proteins are connected through shared cellular signalling pathways, suggesting they may influence each other over time and drive varied disease responses. These findings highlight the potential of circulating proteins as prognostic markers and underscore the need for longitudinal studies. A manuscript detailing the results is being prepared for publication and will be presented at the “Genomic Biomarkers” conference. The work also highlights the lack of tools for exploring causality over time, prompting the development of digital-modelling infrastructure. Validation of these findings is planned using newly generated in-house data from 86 patients, some of whom were followed up after 1.5 years.

 Another aspect of POINT aims to better understand and to promote the uptake of clinical practice guidelines. To co-develop research questions and solicit input from general practitioners (GPs), POINT partners organized a workshop on the WONCA meeting in Rome (February 2025). During the workshop, the attending GP representatives learned about the POINT project goals and provided valuable input regarding potential barriers and facilitators of guideline adoption. Based on that feedback, POINT partners are now designing a survey study to examine the guideline use and its determinants.

“After our first 18 months, POINT is now entering an exciting new phase" states POINT coordinator, Claus Desler (UCPH) "Our work is maturing and we will soon start to share what we’ve learned—through scientific publications, conferences, and international meetings— I believe this work will significantly shape how the world understands and responds to the post-acute phase of COVID-19.”