Tracking down the RS virus - PAPI study launched successfully

Since 2013, the foundation 'CAPNETZ STIFTUNG' has been an associate partner within the German Center for Lung Research. Pediatric studies are one of the focal points of the cooperation. In 2020, the Pediatric Airway Pathogen Incidence (PAPI) Study was started, a multicentric observational study of the RS (respiratory syncytial) virus. By February 2022, already more than 1000 affected children could be included in the study.

The CAPNETZ STIFTUNG has contributed its expertise in clinical studies already since 2013 as an associated partner within the German Center for Lung Research (DZL). At the Hannover DZL site of BREATH (Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover) there is a close cooperation between the CAPNETZ (Competence Network - Community-Acquired Pneumonia) STIFTUNG and the Clinic for Pediatric Pneumology, Allergology and Neonatology at Hannover Medical School (MHH) under the direction of Prof. Dr. Gesine Hansen. Both partners already work together in three multicentric pediatric studies like the pedCAP Network. The CAPNETZ STIFTUNG uses its established study infrastructure to preserve and store biomaterials in a central biobank and undertakes the data collection, data management and statistical analysis.

For the newest collaboration, the PAPI (Pharmacogenomics of Anti-Platelet Intervention) Study, the partners collect comprehensive data on RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) and other infections of the lower respiratory passages in babies and infants up to two years old. PD Dr. Martin Wetzke is responsible for the scientific coordination of the project. Through his work in the Clinic for Pediatric Pneumology at the MHH, he has been able to gain a great deal of expertise in this field. Each week, on the internet site of the PAPI Study, an updated data report is published, showing the course of infection activity. From a global perspective, infections of the lower airways present a serious threat for the health of children in the first years of life. In infants and young children, illness is usually caused by viral pathogens, such as, for example, the RS virus. The virus is widespread throughout the world and is associated with high levels of morbidity and mortality. Other viral pathogens, such as the human metapneumovirus (HMPV), rhino- and influenza viruses or the novel Corona Virus SARS Cov2 play a relevant role. A specific therapy for these viral airway infections does not yet exist.

In the PAPI study, doctors throughout Germany are collecting data on pathogens and causes of disease in children from birth to 2 years with infections of the lower airways. At the same time, demographic and socio-economic factors in the patient’s family are also collected. For the first time, in the PAPI study, not only the frequency of the RS virus, but also of other viral pathogens will be systematically recorded. In this way, the researchers wish to economically classify the importance of the pathogens and submit recommendations for preventative measures, such as vaccination strategies.

Due to the hygiene measures which were in place for the Corona Virus in the autumn of 2020, there was little social contact at this time, which also led to the reduced spread of many other viral pathogens. As a result, only a few children were able to be included in the study. This changed rapidly in the summer of 2021. Due to the discontinuation of many hygienic measures, the number of RSV infections increased earlier than usual. Thus, by the end of February 2022, data from more than 1,000 affected people could be collected. „We hope that we can also include even more patients in the study during the next PAPI season and thus be able to quickly gain new knowledge for the prevention and treatment of infections of the lower airways in children“, says Grit Barten-Neiner, Business Manager of the CAPNETZ STIFTUNG.

This success story demonstrates how important and productive the cooperation is between the partners within the DZL. The results of these cooperations lead directly to improved care for the youngest patients.

Detailed data on the PAPI study can be found under www.papi-studie.de

 

Text: BREATH/AB

Foto: Barten-Neiner
 

Grit Barten-Neiner, managing director of CAPNETZ STIFTUNG

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Principle Investigator PD Dr. Martin Wetzke