The research has been divided in two special research areas: (1) Predictive diagnostics and treatment and (2) Healthcare and prevention. The first area focusses on development of (predictive) diagnostics, for tailor-made treatment and to prevent COVID-19 related symptoms in the early, acute and recovery phase. The second area focusses on diverse types of research and stimulates the cooperation between different research groups, disciplines and relevant stakeholders. This forms a good starting point to efficiently gather insights and to come to an effective preparation for future pandemics.
ReCOVer project
In the first area APH researcher Hans Knoop has received a grant for his project: ReCOVer: Could internet based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy prevent that fatigue symptoms from COVID-19 patients become chronic? The study is a randomized controlled trial with patients having fatigue symptoms, 3 to 6 months after release from the hospital or after a COVID-19 diagnosis. One group will be treated with internet based cognitive behavioral therapy and the other group will be treated regularly.
Supporting loved ones of COVID-19 patients
In the ‘Health and prevention’ area, APH researcher Bregje Onwuteaka-Philipsen has received a grant for her project: Supporting loved ones of an isolated and life threatening ill patient with COVID-19, admitted to the ICU. More information about this project can be found on the APH COVID-19 initiatives page.
Digital visiting people with disabilities
In the second research area ‘Health and prevention’, APH vice director Carlo Schuengel (Vrije Universiteit), has also received a grant for his project in the subtheme ‘organization of health care and prevention’. His project is called ‘Digital visiting people with disabilities: a multidisciplinary founded help for locations where loved ones are not welcome in person’. In this study the possibilities, feasibility, and the connection for using ICT-resources as a replacement for in-person visits will be examined. This should lead to a workable tool with a step by step manual for tailor-made digital visits, when physical visits are not possible.
Additional value of IS-pro technique
Besides the projects mentioned above, ZonMw has also granted projects in the category ‘Science for practice’. Practical questions and problems as a consequence of the corona crisis could best be answered by combining scientific and practical knowledge. APH researcher Prabath Nanayakkara (Amsterdam UMC – VUmc) has received together with inBiome B.V. a grant for the project ‘The additional value of IS-pro technique at the emergency department by identification of a bacterial infection and prediction of the seriousness of SARS-CoV-2 in patients with COVID-19 suspicion’. With this retrospective study, they try to decrease the unnecessary use of antibiotics in the future and to improve the prognosis of COVID-19 patients.