The CoViPa project develops robotic platforms for lab automation and their application to autonomous immunulogical investigations. The platforms are used to assist in COVID-19 biomarker assay and antibody analyses.These technologies are of high relevance for the ongoing pandemic and, given their versatility, increase pandemic preparedness.
Project Details
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has major global impact on human society, economy and daily life. The virus emerged as zoonotic transmission and since the end of 2019 spread around the globe. Although most infections are rather mild or even asymptomatic, more than three million people have died from COVID-19 until April 2021. The pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 infection remains unclear, but most likely results from both a direct cytopathic effect of the virus and a pathogenic inflammation-dominated immune response.
To gain knowledge about the virological and immunological drivers of COVID-19 pathogenesis and the parameters of immune protection, we united experts from 7 Helmholtz Centers in 4 Helmholtz Research Fields (Health, Environment, Information and Aeronautics, Space & Transport) and 3 university partners, to create an internationally visible and interdisciplinary network called COVIPA that pursues two major goals: