Understanding, diagnosing, and treating Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome – State of the art: Report of the 2nd international meeting at the Charité Fatigue Center
Autoimmunity Reviews, vol. 22, pp. 103452
Abstract
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a devastating disease affecting millions of people worldwide. Due to the 2019 pandemic of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), we are facing a significant increase of ME/CFS prevalence. On May 11th to 12th, 2023, the second international ME/CFS conference of the Charité Fatigue Center was held in Berlin, Germany, focusing on pathomechanisms, diagnosis, and treatment. During the two-day conference, more than 100 researchers from various research fields met on-site and over 700 attendees participated online to discuss the state of the art and novel findings in this field. Key topics from the conference included: the role of the immune system, dysfunction of endothelial and autonomic nervous system, and viral reactivation. Furthermore, there were presentations on innovative diagnostic measures and assessments for this complex disease, cutting-edge treatment approaches, and clinical studies. Despite the increased public attention due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the subsequent rise of Long COVID-19 cases, and the rise of funding opportunities to unravel the pathomechanisms underlying ME/CFS, this severe disease remains highly underresearched. Future adequately funded research efforts are needed to further explore the disease etiology and to identify diagnostic markers and targeted therapies.
Authors 43
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Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin · Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin · Freie Universität Berlin · Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Affiliation as printed
Institute of Medical Immunology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany
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Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin · Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin · Freie Universität Berlin · Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Affiliation as printed
Institute of Medical Immunology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany
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Friederike Hoheisel corresponding
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin · Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin · Freie Universität Berlin · Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Affiliation as printed
Institute of Medical Immunology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: friederike.hoheisel@charite.de
Institute of Medical Immunology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany
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Affiliation as printed
ME/CFS Research Foundation, Hamburg, Germany
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German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases
Affiliation as printed
Systems Medicine, Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
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University Hospitals of the Ruhr-University of Bochum · Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin · Universitätsklinik Marien Hospital Herne · Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin · Freie Universität Berlin · Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin · Ruhr University Bochum
Affiliation as printed
Institute of Medical Immunology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany; Center for Translational Medicine and Immune Diagnostics Laboratory, Medical Department I, Ruhr-University Bochum, Marien Hospital Herne, University Hospital of the Ruhr-University Bochum, Herne, Germany; Berlin Institute of Health at Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT), Charitéplatz 1, Berlin, Germany
Berlin Institute of Health at Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT), Charitéplatz 1, Berlin, Germany
Center for Translational Medicine and Immune Diagnostics Laboratory, Medical Department I, Ruhr-University Bochum, Marien Hospital Herne, University Hospital of the Ruhr-University Bochum, Herne, Germany
Institute of Medical Immunology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany
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Max Delbrück Center · Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin · NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence · Freie Universität Berlin · Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Affiliation as printed
Department of Neurology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Experimental and Clinical Research Center, A Cooperation Between the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association and Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany; NeuroCure Clinical Research Center, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, and Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
Department of Neurology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Experimental and Clinical Research Center, A Cooperation Between the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association and Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
NeuroCure Clinical Research Center, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, and Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
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Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin · Freie Universität Berlin · Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Affiliation as printed
Department of Neurology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Haukeland University Hospital · University of Bergen
Affiliation as printed
Department of Oncology and Medical Physics, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway; Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
Department of Oncology and Medical Physics, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
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Affiliation as printed
Center of Advanced Technology for Assisted Learning and Predictive Analytics (CATALPA), FernUniversität in Hagen, Germany
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University of Liverpool · Walton Centre
Affiliation as printed
Pain Research Institute, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, and Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
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Affiliation as printed
Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis, Heidelberg, Germany
Psychotherapy und Psychoanalysis, Heidelberg, Germany
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German Center for Pediatric and Adolescent Rheumatology
Affiliation as printed
Deutsches Zentrum für Kinder- und Jugendrheumatologie, Zentrum für Schmerztherapie junger Menschen, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
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Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg · Universitätsklinikum Erlangen
Affiliation as printed
Department of Ophthalmology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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Affiliation as printed
Center for Community Research, DePaul University, Chicago, IL, USA
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Brigham and Women's Hospital · Harvard University
Affiliation as printed
Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Affiliation as printed
Department of Clinical Research, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin · Freie Universität Berlin · Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Affiliation as printed
Department of Physical Medicine, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
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Haukeland University Hospital · University of Bergen
Affiliation as printed
Department of Oncology and Medical Physics, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway; Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
Department of Oncology and Medical Physics, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
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University of British Columbia · London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine · DIAKO · Women's Health Research Institute · B.C. Women's Hospital & Health Centre
Affiliation as printed
Department of Clinical Research, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK; Women's Health Research Institute, British Columbia Women's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Family Practice, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Department of Clinical Research, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
Department of Family Practice, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Internal Medicine, Department of Nephrology, Diakonissenkrankenhaus, Flensburg, Germany
Women's Health Research Institute, British Columbia Women's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Max Delbrück Center · Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin · NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence · Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Affiliation as printed
Experimental and Clinical Research Center, A Cooperation Between the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association and Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany; NeuroCure Clinical Research Center, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, and Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
Experimental and Clinical Research Center, A Cooperation Between the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association and Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Interdisciplinary Center of Sleep Medicine, Charité -Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
NeuroCure Clinical Research Center, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, and Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
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Affiliation as printed
Institute for Virology and Immunobiology, Julius-Maximilians University Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
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Jena University Hospital · Center for Sepsis Control and Care · Friedrich Schiller University Jena · Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin · University of Lübeck
Affiliation as printed
Department of Sports Medicine and Health Promotion, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Jena, Germany; Center for Interdisciplinary Prevention of Diseases Related to Professional Activities, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Jena, Germany; Center for Sepsis Control and Care (CSCC), Jena University Hospital/Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Jena, Germany
Center for Interdisciplinary Prevention of Diseases Related to Professional Activities, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Jena, Germany
Center for Sepsis Control and Care (CSCC), Jena University Hospital/Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Jena, Germany
Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
Department of Sports Medicine and Health Promotion, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Jena, Germany
Interdisciplinary Center of Sleep Medicine, Charité -Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Medical University of Warsaw · German Center for Infection Research · Technical University of Munich · Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin · University of Lübeck
Affiliation as printed
Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
Department of Experimental and Clinical Physiology, Warsaw Medical University, Stefana Banacha 2a, Warszawa 02-097, Poland
German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Berlin, Germany
Interdisciplinary Center of Sleep Medicine, Charité -Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
at Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany au
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Affiliation as printed
Internal Medicine, Department of Nephrology, Diakonissenkrankenhaus, Flensburg, Germany
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Johns Hopkins University · Johns Hopkins Medicine
Affiliation as printed
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Universidad Bernardo O'Higgins · Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin · Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Affiliation as printed
Translational Immunology, Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) & Charité University Medicine, Berlin, Germany
Centro Integrativo de Biología y Química Aplicada (CIBQA), Universidad Bernardo O'Higgins, Santiago, Chile
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Reichman University · Sheba Medical Center · DIAKO
Affiliation as printed
Zabludowicz Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Center, Reichman University Herzelia, Israel
Internal Medicine, Department of Nephrology, Diakonissenkrankenhaus, Flensburg, Germany
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University of Bonn · German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases · Nicolaus Copernicus University · Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz
Affiliation as printed
Systems Medicine, Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), Bonn, Germany; Department for Genomics & Immunoregulation, Life and Medical Sciences Institute (LIMES), University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany; PRECISE Platform for Single Cell Genomics and Epigenomics, DZNE und Universität Bonn, Bonn, Germany
Department for Genomics & Immunoregulation, Life and Medical Sciences Institute (LIMES), University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
Department of Exercise Physiology and Functional Anatomy, Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz Nicolaus Copernicus University Toruń, Toruń, Poland
PRECISE Platform for Single Cell Genomics and Epigenomics, DZNE und Universität Bonn, Bonn, Germany
Systems Medicine, Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
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Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin · German Centre for Cardiovascular Research · Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin · Freie Universität Berlin · Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Affiliation as printed
Institute of Medical Immunology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany; Berlin Institute of Health at Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT), Charitéplatz 1, Berlin, Germany; DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site, 10785 Berlin, Germany
Berlin Institute of Health at Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT), Charitéplatz 1, Berlin, Germany
DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site, 10785 Berlin, Germany
Institute of Medical Immunology, Charité -Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany
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Warsaw University of Technology · University of Lisbon · Centro de Estatística e Aplicações · Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Affiliation as printed
Department of Mathematics & Information Science, Warsaw University of Technology, Warsaw, Poland.; CEAUL - Centro de Estatística e Aplicações da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
CEAUL -Centro de Estatística e Aplicações da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
Department of Mathematics & Information Science, Warsaw University of Technology, Warsaw, Poland
Interdisciplinary Center of Sleep Medicine, Charité -Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin · Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin · Freie Universität Berlin · Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Affiliation as printed
Institute of Medical Immunology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany
Institute of Medical Immunology, Charité -Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany
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Haukeland University Hospital · Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin · Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin · University of Bergen · Freie Universität Berlin · Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Affiliation as printed
Institute of Medical Immunology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany
Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
Department of Oncology and Medical Physics, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Neurology, Zentrum Votivpark, Vienna, Austria
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Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin · University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf · Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin · Institute of Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis · Freie Universität Berlin · Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Affiliation as printed
Institute of Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
Institute of Medical Immunology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany
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Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Affiliation as printed
Interdisciplinary Center of Sleep Medicine, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Interdisciplinary Center of Sleep Medicine, Charité -Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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FH JOANNEUM University of Applied Sciences · Universidad Bernardo O'Higgins · Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Affiliation as printed
Institute of Biomedical Science, Department of Health Studies, FH, Joanneum University of Applied Sciences, Graz, Austria; Centro Integrativo de Biología y Química Aplicada (CIBQA), Universidad Bernardo O'Higgins, Santiago, Chile
Centro Integrativo de Biología y Química Aplicada (CIBQA), Universidad Bernardo O'Higgins, Santiago, Chile
Institute of Biomedical Science, Department of Health Studies, FH, Joanneum University of Applied Sciences, Graz, Austria
Interdisciplinary Center of Sleep Medicine, Charité -Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Goethe University Frankfurt · University Hospital Frankfurt
Affiliation as printed
Institute of General Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
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Nicolaus Copernicus University · Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin · Universidad Bernardo O'Higgins · Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz · Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Affiliation as printed
Department of Sports Medicine, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany
Centro Integrativo de Biología y Química Aplicada (CIBQA), Universidad Bernardo O'Higgins, Santiago, Chile
Department of Exercise Physiology and Functional Anatomy, Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz Nicolaus Copernicus University Toruń, Toruń, Poland
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Medical University of Warsaw · Nicolaus Copernicus University · German Center for Infection Research · Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz · Technical University of Munich
Affiliation as printed
Department of Exercise Physiology and Functional Anatomy, Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz Nicolaus Copernicus University Toruń, Toruń, Poland; Department of Experimental and Clinical Physiology, Warsaw Medical University, Stefana Banacha 2a, Warszawa 02-097, Poland
Department of Exercise Physiology and Functional Anatomy, Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz Nicolaus Copernicus University Toruń, Toruń, Poland
Department of Experimental and Clinical Physiology, Warsaw Medical University, Stefana Banacha 2a, Warszawa 02-097, Poland
Department of Neurology, Zentrum Votivpark, Vienna, Austria
German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Berlin, Germany
at Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany au
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Helmholtz Munich · Nicolaus Copernicus University · German Center for Infection Research · Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz · Technical University of Munich
Affiliation as printed
Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Berlin, Germany; AGV Research Unit Gene Vectors, Helmholtz Munich (HMGU), Munich, Germany
AGV Research Unit Gene Vectors, Helmholtz Munich (HMGU), Munich, Germany
Department of Exercise Physiology and Functional Anatomy, Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz Nicolaus Copernicus University Toruń, Toruń, Poland
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Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin · Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin · Freie Universität Berlin · Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Affiliation as printed
Institute of Medical Immunology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany
Institute of Medical Immunology, Charité -Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany
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