Model ward for severely affected children and young people in Munich

In September 2023, the "Post-COVID Kids Bavaria 2.0" research project was launched at TUM University Hospital. The project was made possible through funding from the Bavarian State Ministry of Health and Care, with the ME/CFS Research Foundation covering a portion of the funding. This model project aimed to further develop and establish sustainable, needs-based care for severely affected children, adolescents, and young adults in Bavaria. The project built upon the predecessor projects "Post-COVID Kids Bavaria 1.0" and "BAYNET for ME/CFS," as well as the networks of clinics and research institutes established within them. The project integrated various sub-projects focused on biomedical research and healthcare delivery. The Foundation specifically enabled the implementation of the following sub-projects:

1) Establishment of a model ward (clinic) for the comprehensive care of severely ill young children, adolescents and young adults with post-COVID syndrome, post-VAC syndrome and ME/CFS

2) Piloting of pilot-controlled, telemedical and outreach treatment modules for the most severely affected patients

3) Identifying and evaluating potential biomarkers for precision diagnostics

Severely affected ME/CFS patients are rarely included in targeted biomedical research, as they are generally unable to attend standard outpatient appointments. Home visits for the most severely affected patients are not yet sufficiently established and are highly time- and cost-intensive. Consequently, there is a lack of study results from basic or clinical research regarding this patient group — particularly concerning children and adolescents. This largely overlooked area of research — and the specific need for care among young people with post-COVID ME/CFS — is now being addressed for the first time in Germany through a specialised, interdisciplinary model unit, alongside telemedicine and outreach care services.

Establishing a model unit — combined with outreach and telemedicine treatment modules, digital expert panels, and training programmes — represents an innovative approach to providing comprehensive patient care while simultaneously researching the disease within a clinical setting. The project also aimed to further develop diagnostic and therapeutic standards. Another sub-project investigated potential biomarkers for precision diagnostics, such as cell deformability or vascular changes in the retina. Finally, the project provides a cross-sector analysis of care structures in two Bavarian model regions, explicitly including the public health service. The project was scheduled to run until the end of 2024. Its goal is to use the findings to establish a vital foundation for the future diagnosis and treatment of young patients with severe ME/CFS, as well as for further research into the disease — both within Germany and internationally.

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