Understanding Post-Viral Illness
Millions of people worldwide experience prolonged symptoms following viral infections—conditions that can persist for months or years and profoundly impact quality of life. IVMT is dedicated to understanding the biological mechanisms underlying these conditions and developing effective treatments.
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented attention to post-viral syndromes, with Long COVID affecting an estimated 10-30% of those infected. However, post-viral illness is not new—myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) has affected millions for decades, often triggered by viral infections.
Why This Research Matters
Post-viral syndromes represent one of the largest unmet medical needs of our time. By understanding the metabolic dysfunction that underlies these conditions, we can develop targeted therapies that restore normal function and quality of life.
Research Focus Areas
Long COVID
Our Long COVID research program investigates the metabolic perturbations that persist after SARS-CoV-2 infection, including:
- Mitochondrial dysfunction and energy metabolism impairment
- Persistent inflammation and immune dysregulation
- Metabolomic profiling to identify biomarkers and subtypes
- Evaluation of metabolic interventions
ME/CFS Research
ME/CFS is characterized by profound fatigue, post-exertional malaise, and cognitive dysfunction. Our research addresses:
- Cellular energy production deficits
- Metabolic responses to exertion
- Identification of metabolic signatures for diagnosis
- Novel therapeutic targets based on metabolic findings
Mitochondrial Pathology
Mitochondrial dysfunction is emerging as a central feature of many post-viral conditions. We investigate:
- How viral infections damage mitochondria
- Persistence of mitochondrial dysfunction after infection resolution
- Therapeutic strategies to restore mitochondrial function
- Role of mitochondrial DNA damage and repair
Our Approach
IVMT takes an integrated approach to post-viral syndrome research:
- Deep phenotyping — Comprehensive metabolomic, proteomic, and clinical characterization of patients
- Mechanistic studies — Laboratory investigation of metabolic dysfunction using patient-derived samples and model systems
- Computational analysis — AI-driven identification of patterns and therapeutic targets
- Clinical translation — Development and testing of metabolically-targeted interventions