This Keystone Symposia meeting on "Long COVID and Other Post-Acute Infection Syndromes (PAIS)," will assemble global experts from various fields to explore critical dimensions and pathophysiology of these debilitating conditions. The symposium aims to address several diagnostic and therapeutic challenges and identify potential solutions for achieving a consensus on clinical phenotypes, diagnostic criteria, diagnostic biomarkers, clinical trial design and endpoints, and treatments.

The program will explore underlying heterogeneity of disease mechanisms ranging from persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection, to autoimmunity, microbiome dysbiosis, latent virus reactivation, chronic inflammation, metabolic, autonomic and endocrine abnormalities, organ damage, coagulation, and immune dysregulation. Examining the pathophysiology of Long COVID alongside other PAIS, including ME/CFS, post-Lyme, and others, will shed light on overlaps and distinctions between these diseases, providing key insights into common underlying disease pathogenesis, clinical phenotypes, and therapeutic targets.

The meeting will also incorporate discussions on epidemiology, encompassing demographics and comorbidities that influence both risk and recovery of these conditions. In addition, we will explore methodologies such as machine learning to unravel the multifaceted nature of these diseases, which will be instrumental in identifying symptom clusters, biological signatures and treatment responses. The potential connection between Long COVID and neurodegenerative diseases will be examined.

We will spotlight ongoing and upcoming clinical trials, underscoring their pivotal role in advancing the understanding of disease mechanisms, therapeutic options, and enhancing outcomes for individuals living with Long COVID and PIAS. In addition, the development of relevant animal models will be covered, to enable translational research insights. Our ultimate objective is to catalyze collaborative interactions among researchers, clinicians, and patients from different backgrounds, fostering a proactive and accelerated approach to unraveling the complexities of Long COVID and other PAIS, and formulating effective strategies for diagnosis, treatment, and care.

Featured Partner Activities

As a leader in scientific conferences, Keystone Symposia is proud to partner with the non-profit "Infectious Insights," producer of the podcast "Why Should I Trust You." The podcast is aimed at elevating scientific literacy by engaging with scientists to counter myths and distrust in science. Their team, consisting of virologists, clinicians, and producers, will interview field leaders at this Keystone Symposia conference to bridge the gap between science and public understanding amidst rising anti-science rhetoric. Participation is entirely optional. 

Why Should I Trust You?  is a weekly podcast that looks at the breakdown in trust for science and public health... Hosted by Brinda Adhikari, the former executive producer of “The Problem with Jon Stewart” and a former TV news journalist; Tom Johnson, the former executive producer of “The Circus,” and also a former TV news journalist; Dr. Maggie Bartlett, a virologist and assistant research professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; and Dr. Mark Abdelmalek a skin cancer surgeon, a medical journalist and a dermatologist practicing in Philadelphia -  each week we try to figure out what is behind this staggering collapse in trust and see if we can rebuild towards trust again. -Why Should I Trust You Podcast