COVID-19

COVID-19

Date(s)

21 Nov 2024 - 22 Nov 2024

Program Language

English

Location

Barcelona, Spain

Meeting type

Hybrid

Virology Education

Demystifying Long COVID International Conference 2024

General

What's New

The conference will be held at the Alexandre Hotel Fira Congress.
Full address: Polígono Industrial de la Pedrosa, C. de José Agustín Goytisolo, 9, 11, 08908 L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain

Registration fees are WAIVED for all abstract presenters who qualify as either academia from Resource-Limited Settings or Early-Career Investigators. A 50% discount is offered for those without an accepted abstract
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About this Program

The Demystifying Long COVID International Conference 2024 will be held on 21 - 22 November 2024 in Barcelona, Spain. This conference aims to raise awareness, clarify misconceptions, promote understanding, and stimulate discussion amongst healthcare professionals, investigators, policymakers, and community representatives on the clinical manifestations, management, plausible preventive and therapeutic options, and public health challenges related to Long COVID (or post-acute sequelae of COVID-19).

Knowledge of symptom-specific testing and diagnostic recommendations for Long COVID is still limited. The possible protective role of vaccination remains an extensive area of research, likewise the possible effect of antiviral and other treatment strategies. This highlights the importance of sustained medical education and regular updates on guidelines.

The program will feature state-of-the-art lectures, case presentations, and interactive sessions tailored to address educational needs in global healthcare settings. Ample time is reserved for debates and panel discussions to enhance knowledge exchange and reinforce the implementation of clinical guidelines and recommendations.

This will be done in the unique context of the COVID-19 pandemic considering regional differences in epidemiology, morbidity and mortality, access to vaccines, tests, and medications, health system capacity, and public health measures.

Program Chairs

Daniel Kuritzkes, MD

Brigham and Women's Hospital / Harvard Medical School, United States

Roger Paredes, MD, PhD

Hospital Germans Trias & IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute, Spain

Dominique Salmon, MD, PhD

Paris Descartes University, France

General Information

Who Should Attend?

- Pulmonologists
- Neurologists
- Internal Medicine Physicians
- Infectious Diseases Physicians
- Family Doctors
- Cardiologists
- Psychiatrists
- Occupational Therapists
- Clinical/Translational investigators
- Policymakers

Meeting Objectives

This meeting aims to:
- Raising awareness and educating HCPs
- Facilitating translation of new findings into daily practice
- Stimulating clinical research and data sharing

Learning Objectives

After participating in this activity, participants will be able to:
- Define the Long COVID syndrome, and describe diagnostic challenges
- Understand epidemiology and trends in the prevalence in relation to the severity of acute COVID, the vaccination status, age, etc.
- Describe the multisystem pathologies of Long COVID
- Improve management of people living with Long COVID
- Summarize clinical data on potential preventive and treatment options

Practical Information

We trust that the following information will assist you in organizing your participation for the Demystifying Long COVID International Conference 2024.

Venue

The conference will be held at the Alexandre Hotel Fira Congress.

Full address: Polígono Industrial de la Pedrosa, C. de José Agustín Goytisolo, 9, 11, 08908 L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain

Accommodation is not included in the registration rate.

Travel & Accommodation

The registration for this conference does not include travel & accommodation. If you require a visa to enter Spain to attend this conference face-to-face, a visa letter will be issued after completing the registration page.

Badges

All participants are requested to wear the badge at all times during the conference to ensure admission to the meeting.

Certificate of Attendance

A certificate of attendance will be sent to you after successfully completing the program and post-meeting survey.

Language

The official language of the conference is English.
Translation will not be provided.

Conference Materials

Conference materials can be obtained upon registration at the registration desk at the Conference Venue.

Disclaimer

This conference is intended for educational purposes only and aims to offer participants the opportunity to share information. The Organizing Secretariat of this event, Virology Education, cannot accept any liability for the scientific content of the sessions or for any claims which may result from the use of information or publications from this meeting. Virology Education disclaims all liability for injuries or losses of whatever nature incurred by individuals attending the conference.

Liability and Insurance

By registering for the conference participants agree that the organizers do not accept responsibility for medical-, travel- or personal insurance. Participants are advised to take out their own insurance policies.

Photographs, Audio, and Video Recording

Photographs, audio, and video recordings are not permitted at the official meeting sessions. Only the official medical writer appointed by the organization may make recordings. All presentations will be posted here as soon as possible after the conference is finished, provided the speaker has given permission to do so.

Code of Conduct

All attendees, speakers, co-organizers, partners, endorsers, suppliers, volunteers, and employees at any of our programs are expected to observe our Code of Conduct. We cannot tolerate any form of discrimination, harassment, disrespect, or the marginalization of those involved in our programs. All participants of VE and AME-organized programs are expected to treat others with dignity and respect at all times.

Any individual who feels discriminated against, harassed, disrespected, or marginalized is encouraged to report the incident(s) to VE and AME via info@amededu.com or to one of our on-site personnel.

Any participant who is found to have exhibited any inappropriate conduct or behavior against others may be removed from the program.

Registration

Registration is now open!

Fees and Conditions

Physical Participation

	Regular Delegates*	Industry Delegates
Early Fee (payment before/on 28 July 2024)	€495	€695
Standard Fee (payment before/on 20 September 2024)	€695	€895
Late Fee (payment after 21 September 2024)	€795	€995

Virtual Participation

	Regular Delegates*	Industry Delegates
Early Fee (payment before/on 28 July 2024)	€395	€595
Standard Fee (payment before/on 20 September 2024)	€595	€795
Late Fee (payment after 21 September 2024)	€695	€895

Discounts

Early-Career Investigators / Regular Delegates from Resource-Limited Settings (RLS) WITH accepted abstract**	100% Off Early Fee
Early-Career Investigators / Regular Delegates from Resource-Limited Settings (RLS) WITHOUT accepted abstract**	50% Off Current Regular Fee
NGO Representatives / Government Representatives (i.e. MOH, NIH, NIAID, etc.) / Advocates	50% Off Current Regular Fee
Members of Endorsers	25% Off Current Regular Fee
Sponsors	Contact Secretariat
People Living with Long COVID	Complimentary virtual registration***

* The "Regular Delegate" category includes the following:

Healthcare professionals and patient representatives;
NGOs, activists, and lobbyists;
Government officials, representatives, and policymakers;
Researchers; and
Students in a relevant field.

Healthcare professionals are defined as professionals that provide any type of health care service to patients living with Long COVID or other diseases. If you are not sure, please do not hesitate to contact us at karen.lam@amededu.com

**RLS are countries included in the low-income and middle-income economies list of the World Bank Classification

***People Living with Long COVID can register to attend the conference virtually through this link.

If you have financial concerns, please contact the conference secretariat.

Important

We strongly advise that you register early to ensure your registration. Registration will close when the capacity of the venue is reached.
Submission of your online registration does not guarantee that your registration has been accepted. Your registration is final when full prepayment has been received and a confirmation of your registration has been sent.

Registration Fee Includes

For onsite attendees:
- Access to all scientific sessions, including poster area;
- Conference pack, including abstract and program book;
- Refreshments during the coffee breaks;

For virtual attendees:
- Access to all scientific sessions
- Digital conference pack, including the program

IMPORTANT:
- Virology Education reserves the right to cancel improper registrations. Claims for a refund will not be honored.

Early-Career Investigators / Regular Delegates from Resource-limited Settings (RLS)

We are pleased to waive the registration fee for Early-Career Investigators and Regular Delegates from low-income and lower-middle-income countries with an accepted abstract and a 50% discount on the registration fee without an accepted abstract.

IMPORTANT: The fee waiver is offered to the presenting author only.

To be eligible as an early-career investigator, one should either be a current Master/PhD student or have obtained an MD/PharmD/PhD degree in the last five years. Please find and download the application form at the bottom of this page. This form needs to be completed by a supervisor and received by the Virology Education secretariat at least two weeks prior to the start of the workshop. Virology Education will contact the early-career investigator with instructions regarding the registration procedure.

Payment

By credit card only: online or by written authorization (see online registration).

Cancellation Policy

In case of cancellation, the following refunds are applicable:

- Cancellation before/on 21 October 2024: 50% refund (minus an administration fee of €40)
- Cancellation after 21 October 2024: Unfortunately, no refund will be given

If you are unable to attend the conference, a substitute delegate is always welcome at no extra charge, provided that a letter of authorization from the original participant has been received and the conference secretariat has been notified of the name of the substitute delegate before 7 November 2024. A statement (email/letter) of cancellation must be sent to Virology Education.

Liability and Insurance

By registering for the conference, participants agree that the organizers do not accept responsibility for medical, travel, or personal insurance. Participants are advised to take out their own insurance policies.

Media Registration

In order to register as a media participant for the Conference, the conference secretariat needs to receive:

1. Proof of accreditation
2. Valid identification (e.g. passport)
3. A letter from your assignment giver stating the details of your assignment (e.g. editor)
4. At least 3 previous written assignments in recognized outlets on HIV. If you are a freelance journalist, the assignments can be from different (recognizable) news outlets. Links to online publications are accepted
5. The website of the publication(s)/blog(s) that will be featuring your story on this workshop

A reduced registration fee may apply for accredited media participants depending on availability. Preference will be given to credible print and online news sources. Please contact the conference secretariat for registration conditions.

We would like to receive a copy of your workshop report/ article once it is finalized.
All credentials will be verified by the Organizing Committee of the Workshop. Media representatives are kindly requested to register by sending the above-mentioned information to christina.moustakaki@amededu.com.

Important: Media is restricted to the written press. Recording on film or photo is not allowed. Virology Education will request a copy of the written piece once it is finalized. Media representatives must also agree to abide by the 2024 embargo policy.

Downloads:

LONG COVID_Early Career Investigator Form.docx

Program

Preliminary Program

The program of Demystifying Long COVID International Conference 2024 is currently under development and subject to changes. The below times are set in Central European Time (CET). Please, use this tool to convert the timing into your time zone.

Thursday, 21 November

Opening & Welcome - 14:00

14:00 CET

Opening & Welcome

14:10 CET

Opening Talk: Long COVID: State of the Science and Directions for Policy and Research

Roger Paredes, MD, PhD

Hospital Germans Trias & IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute, Spain

Session 1: Clinical Spectrum - Different Faces of Long COVID -

Session Chairs:

Daniel Kuritzkes, MD

Brigham and Women's Hospital / Harvard Medical School, United States

Dominique Salmon, MD, PhD

Paris Descartes University, France

14:40 CET

Epidemiology and Long Term Evolution of Long COVID

Olivier Robineau, MD, PhD

Service Universitaire des Maladies Infectieuses et du Voyageur, Centre Hospitalier de Tourcoing, France

15:05 CET

Autonomic Dysfunction in long COVID

Nicola Montano, PhD

University of Milan, Italy

15:30 CET

Long COVID in Children

Danilo Buonsenso, MD, PhD

Gemelli University Hospital, Italy

15:55 CET

Coffee Break

Session 2: Abstract-Driven Session -

Session Chairs:

Nicola Montano, PhD

University of Milan, Italy

Daniel M. Altmann, PhD

Imperial College London, United Kingdom

16:30 CET

#1 - Clinical Insights From a Pediatric Long COVID Clinic

Sindhu Mohanadas

United States

16:42 CET

#2 - Impact of Persistent Symptoms on Quality of Life in Long COVID Patients: A Comparative Study

David Lerma Irureta

Spain

16:55 CET

#3 - Long COVID and associated outcomes following COVID-19 reinfections: Insights from an International Patient-Led Survey

Gina Assaf

United States

17:07 CET

#4 - An Innovative Digital Health Solution to Address Unmet Needs in Long COVID: Results From the Co-design Study of the Long COVID Companion App

Aurélie Fischer & Pauline Oustric

France

Session 3: Patient-Centred Coordination of Care - Where Do We Stand? -

Session Chairs:

Sindhu Mohandas MBBS, MD, MRCPCH

Division of Infectious Diseases, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA

Anton Pozniak, MD, FRCP

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, United Kingdom

17:20 CET

Dutch Example

Dr. Mischa Huson

Erasmus MC, Netherlands

17:30 CET

Spanish Example

Lourdes Mateu, MD, PhD

Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital, Spain

17:40 CET

French Example

Jérôme Larcher

France

17:50 CET

Panel Discussion on Implementation

18:20 CET

Introduction to the Cohort Coordination Board: CCB

18:30 CET

Poster Viewing Tour & EuCARE hosted CCB Networking Reception

19:30 CET

End of Day 1

Friday, 22 November

Session 4: Pathophysiology -

Session Chairs:

Serena Spudich, MD

Yale University, United States

08:30 CET

Immune Dysregulation and Autoimmunity in Long COVID

Daniel M. Altmann, PhD

Imperial College London, United Kingdom

08:55 CET

Viral Reservoirs and Consequences of SARS-CoV-2 Persistence

Morgane Bomsel, PhD

Institut Cochin, Paris, France

09:20 CET

#5 - Persistent Immune Dysregulation and Metabolic Alterations Following SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Irini Sereti

United States

09:32 CET

#6 - Unraveling the Molecular Signature of Long COVID with Post-Exertional Fatigue: An Analysis of Circulating Proteomic and Metabolomic Profiles

Marta Massanella

Spain

09:44 CET

#7 - Sub-maximal 2-day Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing to Assess Exercise Tolerance and Symptom Responses in People with Long COVID

Callum Thomas

United Kingdom

10:00 CET

Coffee Break

Session 5: Diagnostics, Biomarkers, and End Points -

Session Chairs:

Irini Sereti, MD

NIAID/NIH, United States

10:20 CET

Molecular PET imaging of long COVID

Eric Guedj, MD, Dipl.-Ing, PhD

Aix-Marseille University / Timone Hospital / Fresnel Institute, France

10:45 CET

Neuropathogenesis

Serena Spudich, MD

Yale University, United States

11:10 CET

#8 - Normalization of Cognitive Function in Patients With Neurological Symptoms Post COVID-19 After 12 Months

Siv Elin Pignatiello

Norway

11:22 CET

#9 - Plasma Biomarkers in Children and Young People With Long COVID

Jon Izquierdo-Pujol

Spain

11:35 CET

Industry-Sponsored Symposium

12:35 CET

Lunch Break

Session 6: Illustrating the Challenges - Clinical Case Presentations -

Session Chairs:

Igho Ofotokun, MD, MSc, FIDSA

Emory University, United States

13:35 CET

Case 1: Differential Diagnosis

Gemma Lladós, MD

Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Spain

13:45 CET

Discussion

14:00 CET

Case 2: No Cure, What Are the Options

Clara Lehmann, MD

University of Cologne, Germany

14:10 CET

Discussion

14:25 CET

Coffee Break

Session 7: Clinical Trials - Prevention and Treatment Options on the Horizon -

Session Chairs:

Roger Paredes, MD, PhD

Hospital Germans Trias & IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute, Spain

Jonathan Schapiro, MD

National Hemophilia Center, Sheba Medical Center, Israel

14:55 CET

Long Covid Therapeutic Trials: Current Status

Dominique Salmon, MD, PhD

Paris Descartes University, France

15:20 CET

What Have We Learned from Observational Studies to Improve Future Clinical Trials

Igho Ofotokun, MD, MSc, FIDSA

Emory University, United States

15:45 CET

#10 - Anticoagulant and Antiviral Therapy in Long COVID: A Real-World Prospective Cohort Study and Grassroots Patient-Designed Trial

Johan Van Weyenbergh

Belgium

15:57 CET

#11 - Exploring the Efficacy of Plasma Exchange Therapy in Post-COVID-19 Condition: A Pilot Randomized Double-Blind Trial

Sergio España Cueto

Spain

16:10 CET

Patient Perspective on Clinical Trials Design

Chantal Britt, MA

Long Covid Switzerland, Switzerland

16:35 CET

Panel Discussion: Future Clinical Trials Through the Lens of Cautious Optimism

17:00 CET

Closing of the Conference

17:05 CET

End of Conference

End of the Program

Committees

Chairs 2024

Daniel Kuritzkes, MD

Brigham and Women's Hospital / Harvard Medical School, United States

Roger Paredes, MD, PhD

Hospital Germans Trias & IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute, Spain

Dominique Salmon, MD, PhD

Paris Descartes University, France

Organizing Committee

The members of the Organizing Committee are a group of carefully selected experts and inspirational leaders in their respective fields. They meet frequently to discuss the scientific program of the conference, identify interesting topics and candidate speakers, and review all submitted abstracts.

Jonathan Schapiro, MD

National Hemophilia Center, Sheba Medical Center, Israel

Anton Pozniak, MD, FRCP

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, United Kingdom

Serena Spudich, MD

Yale University, United States

Chantal Britt, MA

Long Covid Switzerland, Switzerland

Scientific Program Coordinator

Dragana Vidovic, PhD

Scientific Program Coordinator, Academic Medical Education

Scientific Committee

The members of Scientific Committee are hand-picked by the Organizing Committee and the conference secretariat based on their significant contributions and commitment to the field. They assist the Organizing Committee by providing them with suggestions for speakers and topics. In addition, they participate in reviewing submitted abstracts, and play an active role during the conference as moderators and/or chairs of sessions.

Daniel Altmann, PhD, Imperial College London, United Kingdom
Tomaso Antonacci - Long Covid Belgium, Belgium
Danilo Buonsenso, MD, PhD - Woman and Child Health and Public Health Rome, Italy
Giovanni Guaraldi, MD - University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy
Marc Jamoulle, MD, PhD, University of Liège, Belgium
Clara Lehmann, MD, German Center For Infectious Research / University Hospital Cologne, Germany
Pauline Oustric, PhD - #ApresJ20 Association Covid Long France, INSERM/Centre Léon Bérard, France

Abstracts

The abstract submission portal is closed. The deadline was Friday 20 September 2024.

The Demystifying Long COVID International Conference 2024 accepts new original data as well as encored abstracts. All abstracts must contain up-to-date information at the time of the conference.

Please note:

Abstracts must be submitted in English.
Registration fees are WAIVED for all abstract presenters that qualify as either academia from Resource-Limited Settings or Early-Career Investigators. A 50% discount is offered for those without an accepted abstract. The requirements for the application are specified here.
Abstracts will be accepted either for oral or poster presentations. Presenters of all accepted abstract are expected to attend in person. Virtual presentations will not be accepted.

Abstract Topics

For purposes of review and programming, abstracts are divided into topical categories.

The selection of the most appropriate category is important as it determines who reviews your abstract. The Review Committee reserves the right to reassign your abstract to a more appropriate category.

Abstract submission topics for submissions:

Epidemiology
Syndrome Definition and Diagnosis
Pathophysiology
Long COVID in Diverse Populations
Prevention of post-COVID conditions
Treatment Strategies and Clinical Trials
Clinical Management and Models of Care
Economic Impact
Pediatrics
Biostatistics
Pregnancy
Social Determinants of Health

General Guidelines

Abstracts should contain the following four components:

Background: A concise statement of the issue under investigation or a hypothesis;
Material and Methods: The experimental methods used (including the statistical analyses employed);
Results: Specific findings (promises such as "to be completed" or "to be presented" are not acceptable);
Conclusions: A summary of findings that are supported by your results (statistical analyses used to support the conclusions, where appropriate, should be included; concluding statements such as "the results will be discussed" are not acceptable).

Please note that abstracts cannot be accepted if tables or graphs are included. The maximum word count for the abstract body is 350 words.

Abstracts are considered official communications to the conference and will be treated confidentially. Submitters of accepted abstracts agree to attend the meeting and present their abstract as scheduled.

We encourage you to use person-first language in your abstract(s). View our guidelines here.

Terms and Conditions

By submitting an abstract to a meeting organized by Academic Medical Education BV (AME), the abstract submitter hereby agrees to the terms and conditions.

The terms and conditions can be viewed here: https://academicmedicaleducation.com/abstract-submission-terms-and-conditions

Notification of Abstract Acceptance

It is the responsibility of the corresponding / presenting author to inform all co-authors of the abstract’s status (accepted / not accepted). We aim to send out notifications at least 1 month prior to the start date of the event. Please notify the Conference Secretariat if you have not received a notification by end-October. If your abstract is accepted, one author is required to register for the workshop and present in person as scheduled. Guidelines for preparing your oral and/or poster presentations will be sent after your abstract has been accepted.

Abstract Submission

Authors can submit their abstracts electronically. You will be redirected to the submission website. Please follow the step-by-step directions to upload the abstract. To ensure your abstract retains any special characters or formatting, the abstract must be in Microsoft Word format.

Poster Presentation Instructions

Poster presenters are expected to attend onsite.

Posters need to meet the following dimensions A0 size (approx. 33" x 47") in portrait format.

Please display the number of your poster in the upper right corner of your poster.

Poster presenters are requested to stand near their posters during the poster session.

We advise you to prepare hand-outs of your poster on Letter or A4 format.

Please hang your posters as early as possible. All posters must be displayed from the opening session to the closure of the meeting.

Adhesive materials will be provided.

Support

Platinum Level

Supporter Level (Founding Sponsor)

Networking Reception Sponsor

Support Our Initiative

Financial backing helps us deliver an impactful meeting experience to the benefit of healthcare professionals and researchers interested in the Demystifying Long COVID International Conference 2024.

This collaboration plays a vital role in both the organizational as well as scientific success of the program.To show your commitment to the cause, get in touch with us for a tailored
support package by contacting Ms. Daria Bohdanova at daria.bohdanova@amededu.com

Benefits of Support

By supporting this program, we can offer the following advantages for your company.* Please contact us for the most recent support level benefits for this program.

Symposium opportunities
Non-commercial interviews with company representatives
Verbal acknowledgement during the program
Discounted and complimentary registrations for your representatives
Company acknowledgement on digital meeting materials including but not limited to newsletters, flyers, the streaming platform, and our website
Company acknowledgement on printed meeting materials including but not limited to banners and the program book
Digital and printed advertising opportunities
Social media shout-outs
Logo on the conference bag

*Subject to the support level.

Symposium

Antivirals for the Prevention of Long COVID What Do Real-World Data Show?

This satellite symposium is presented by:

Pfizer

Program | 22 November 2024 - 12:00

12:00 CET

Opening

12:02 CET

Antivirals for Prevention of Long COVID: Overview of Real-World Data

Igho Ofotokun, MD, MSc, FIDSA

Emory University, United States

12:17 CET

DEBATE: Antivirals Can Prevent Long COVID

12:19 CET

Voting

12:21 CET

PRO Standpoint

Dominique Salmon, MD, PhD

Paris Descartes University, France

12:28 CET

CON Standpoint

Roger Paredes, MD, PhD

Hospital Germans Trias & IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute, Spain

12:36 CET

Discussion with the Audience

12:51 CET

Rebuttal

12:53 CET

Voting

12:55 CET

Results & Closing

Previous Editions

1st Edition - Demystifying Long COVID International Conference 2023

Endorsers

The Demystifying Long COVID International Conference 2024 is endorsed by the following societies and organizations. Their support and collaboration are key to the success of this conference!

Become an Endorser

If you would like your organization to endorse or become a media partner of the Demystifying Long COVID International Conference 2024, please contact Karen Lam at karen.lam@amededu.com