COVID-19

Below is an overview of various sections of The Swedish COVID-19 & Pandemic Preparedness Portal where information about research data and resources relevant to COVID-19 can be found. For a short background on this topic below, see the description below.

Data highlights (34)

COVID-19 Infectious diseases

A wider variety of data sources contribute to better spatio-temporal predictions of COVID-19 test positivity

2022-11-22

Van Zoest et al (2022) developed and evaluated the performance of four different statistical single models and one ensemble model to predict trends in COVID-19 test positivity. Data are shared openly in GitHub.
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COVID-19 Infectious diseases

Data-driven research shows that Neanderthal gene connected to severity of COVID-19 (Update)

2022-10-03

Study by Hugo Zeberg and Svante Pääbo fully based on openly available data published open access in Nature.

Now a Nobel Prize winner!!
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COVID-19 Infectious diseases

Direct RT-PCR used to monitor Omicron BA.1/BA.2 variant transition in Sweden (Update)

2022-08-15

Lentini and collegues used direct RT-PCR to show the transition from Omicron BA.1 to sub-variant BA.2 in Sweden Jan-March 2022. New Preprint from Reinius lab which shares data and code.
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See all data highlights on COVID-19 (34)

Dashboards (6)

SciLifeLab Autoimmunity and Serology profiling facility SARS-CoV-2 antibody test statistics

The amount of SARS-CoV-2 virus in wastewater across Sweden

The administration and study of COVID-19 vaccines in Sweden

Post COVID-19 condition in Sweden: statistics, research projects, and available data

See all dashboards on COVID-19 (6)

Sample collections (35)

Name	Type	Size	Materials
Dalarna biobank (forskningsprov och nyinsamlade prov): SARS-CoV-2 PCR positiva Dalarna	Healthcare sample collection	1000 - 10.000	Nasal swab Throat swab
Gävleborg biobank: Klinisk mikrobiologi	Healthcare sample collection	1000 - 10.000	Nasal swab Serum Throat swab Other
Halland biobank: Patologen Halland	Healthcare sample collection	100 - 1000	Tissue (stained sections/slides) Tissue (paraffin preserved)

See all sample collections on COVID-19 (35)

Ongoing research projects (56)

Project title	Funder	Topics
Immunological correlates of protection in COVID-19 disease and after COVID-19 vaccination Host institute: Karolinska Institute Principal investigator: Anna Smed Sörensen Project: Immunological correlates of protection in COVID-19 disease and after COVID-19 vaccination Funder: Swedish Research Council Principal investigator: Anna Smed Sörensen Host institute: Karolinska Institute Duration: 2021-01-01 – 2023-12-31 More information about the project	Swedish Research Council	COVID-19Infectious diseases
Stochastic modelling of epidemic outbreaks - post Covid-19 Host institute: Stockholm University Principal investigator: Tom Britton Project: Stochastic modelling of epidemic outbreaks - post Covid-19 Funder: Swedish Research Council Principal investigator: Tom Britton Host institute: Stockholm University Duration: 2020-12-01 – 2024-11-30 More information about the project	Swedish Research Council	COVID-19Infectious diseases
Wuhan Interaction with Stockholm Evidence-based Research (WISER) project on health perspectives in the older population facing the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak Host institute: Karolinska Institute Principal investigator: Sara Hägg Project: Wuhan Interaction with Stockholm Evidence-based Research (WISER) project on health perspectives in the older population facing the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak Funder: Swedish Research Council Principal investigator: Sara Hägg Host institute: Karolinska Institute Duration: 2021-01-01 – 2023-12-31 Funding amount: 9.000.000 SEK Project description: The SARS-CoV-2 outbreak severely affected the cities of Wuhan and Stockholm in 2020. The most affected was the old segment of the population, where thousands died in hospitals and in elderly care homes. Different strategies were implemented to protect the population; from lockdown in Wuhan to social distancing in Stockholm. The aim of the WISER (Wuhan Interaction with Stockholm Evidence-based Research) project is to analyze health perspectives of the old population during the COVID-19 epidemic. We will analyze public health interventions on disease spreading in the old population using a Bayesian inference framework. In addition, we will identify COVID-19 risk factors in elderly living in care homes and in geriatric patients admitted to hospital. What risk factors identify vulnerable individuals in need of more advanced care? Moreover, we will follow up geriatric patients and analyze their long-term health consequences after COVID-19 infection. As we partly use selected samples in the analyses, we will also develop methods to account for sampling bias.The research team from China and Sweden brings together experts in infectious disease epidemiology, biostatistics, gerontologists knowledgeable on frailty, as well as clinical geriatricians important for collecting clinical data. The project covers three years, with shared responsibility for the aims. Together, we will move the forefront in COVID-19 epidemiology of the most affected old individuals. More information about the project	Swedish Research Council	COVID-19Infectious diseases

See all ongoing research projects on COVID-19 (56)

Open funding opportunities (7)

Call title	Deadline	Funder	Topics
Scandinavian Society of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy Foundation (SSAC Foundation) grants The Foundation distributes grants for research or travel related to the treatment of infectious diseases with antibacterial, antiviral, antimycotic or antiparasitic agents. The assets of the … Scandinavian Society of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy Foundation (SSAC Foundation) grants Funder: Scandinavian Society of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy Foundation Submission opens: December 1, 2022 Submission deadline: February 1, 2023 Funding period: The grant should have been used by the end of December the year after the grant was received. Extension of the grant disposal time can only be approved under exceptional circumstances. Eligible applicant: Applicants must be members of the Nordic Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, NSCMID. The membership must have been granted no later than November 1st the year before the application. Decision date: Decisions on the grants will be communicated to the applicants via email by end of June. Call description: The Foundation distributes grants for research or travel related to the treatment of infectious diseases with antibacterial, antiviral, antimycotic or antiparasitic agents. The assets of the Foundation originates from the earnings of the 18th International Congress of Chemotherapy in Stockholm in 1993. See call website for more information	February 1, 2023	Scandinavian Society of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy Foundation	Infectious diseasesGeneral
Risk Group 4 Pathogens Researchers are invited to submit any proposal that can be advanced by access to at least one of ISIDORe's services, falls under topics defined in the Scope (see funding link for details), … Risk Group 4 Pathogens Funder: ISIDORe Submission opens: November 1, 2022 Submission deadline: February 7, 2023 Funding amount: Call provides access to ISIDORe services, not a given monetary amount. Call description: Researchers are invited to submit any proposal that can be advanced by access to at least one of ISIDORe’s services, falls under topics defined in the Scope (see funding link for details), and/or is focused on at least one eligible RG4 pathogen (see funding link for details). Your proposal must focus on at least one of the following pathogens; Ebola virus, Marburg virus, Nipah virus, Hendra virus, Lassa virus, ’new world arenaviruses’, CCHF virus. See call website for more information	February 7, 2023	ISIDORe	Infectious diseasesGeneral
Respiratory Pathogens Researchers are invited to submit any proposal that can be advanced by access to at least one of ISIDORe's services, falls under topics defined in the Scope (see funding link for details), … Respiratory Pathogens Funder: ISIDORe Submission opens: November 1, 2022 Submission deadline: January 1, 2025 Funding amount: Funding will be available for as long as it remains available. Call provides access to ISIDORe services, not a given monetary amount. Call description: Researchers are invited to submit any proposal that can be advanced by access to at least one of ISIDORe’s services, falls under topics defined in the Scope (see funding link for details), and/or is focused on at least one eligible respiratory pathogen (see funding link for details). Your proposal must focus on at least one of the following pathogens: Zoonotic betacoronaviruses, Influenza A, Yersinia pestis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis/bovis, Coxiella burnetii. See call website for more information	January 1, 2025	ISIDORe	Infectious diseasesGeneral

See all open funding opportunities on COVID-19 (7)

Background

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus. Since its start in early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has challenged societies worldwide. While most people infected experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without treatment, the disease can be severe or fatal. Advanced age and underlying medical conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, or chronic respiratory disease, have all been associated with increased risk of severe outcome. However, anyone independent of age or comorbidities is at risk for COVID-19 severe disease outcome. As of March 2022, more than 200 million confirmed cases and over 4 million deaths have been reported.

The research community worldwide has, in an unprecedented way, focused their research efforts towards investigating the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus and variants, as well as variants of concern (VoCs) have emerged more, and the impact of COVID-19 on human body. These contributions from the research community have been a crucial part of the rapid vaccine development. Vaccines are today the cornerstone of global pandemic management. Whilst vaccines were rolled out in record time and have proven very effective diminishing the risk of severe COVID-19 disease and death, many research questions remain. Although we are now entering a more endemic period, COVID-19 is a serious health threat worldwide. Research and lessons learned are crucial for early detection of outbreaks, ability to rapidly identify potential new SARS CoV-2 variants of concern, development of additional treatment options, and future pandemic preparedness. There is still an uncertainty regarding the duration of vaccine protection and effectiveness of booster doses. In addition, vaccine escape has been shown by several current VoCs which could make vaccines less efficient.