Covid-19 Project prepared by Near East University DESAM Institute Researchers approved by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Turkey
Date Added: 08 July 2020, 12:12
Last Updated Date:17 November 2020, 10:00


Having been conducted by the Near East University Experimental Health Sciences Research Center (DESAM) researchers in collaboration with participants from Manisa Celal Bayar University, Kocaeli University, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University and Derince Training and Research Hospital of Kocaeli Health Sciences University, the project titled "The Relationship between Plasma Interleukin and TGF-Beta Levels in Patients with COVID-19" was approved by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Turkey.

According to the information released by the Press and Public Relations Directorate of Near East University, the multi-center study was planned believing that it would be important to determine cytokine-chemokine plasma levels for COVID-19, following the clinical process and/or determining the effective treatment since there is no specific antiviral treatment for COVID-19.

Although the common symptoms of infection are respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, and dyspnea, ‘cytokine storm’ is the main responsible factor in COVID-19 cases. Especially with the penetration of the virus into the cell, widespread alveolar damage, which is directly related to clinical symptoms, is caused by released cytokines and chemokines. The treatment of Covid-19, which causes global epidemic, has not been definite yet; treatment options and duration vary from patient to patient. Therefore, the data that will provide the control of the course of the disease and the response to treatment are important and new markers are needed.

Based on the data acquired from the multicentre study, it has been concluded that the course of the disease and cytokine plasma levels in Covid-19 cases are different and are associated with the clinical picture of the disease.

Expert Researchers in the field are conducting the study…
The study, which is conducted by Prof. Dr. H. Seda Vatansever and Prof. Dr. Muraf Sayan, researchers at the Experimental Health Sciences Center (DESAM) of Near East University, is supported by a broad range of scholars including Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ from the Experimental Health Sciences Research Center, Prof. Dr. Sıla Alkan from the Department of Microbiology and the Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infection of the Faculty of Medicine of Kocaeli University, Spec. Dr. Selcen Arslan Özel from the Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases of Derince Training and Research Hospital of Health Sciences University, and Dr. Melik Özgül from the Department of Histology-Embryology of Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University. The study is also supported by the Scientific Research Project (BAP) unit of Near East University.