Mar 16, 2026
Federal Health Minister Nina Warken visits the Dresden University Hospital
Federal Health Minister Nina Warken and Minister of State Petra Köpping learn about the PEDNET-LC project at Dresden University Hospital
On March 13th, 2026, Federal Health Minister Nina Warken and Saxony’s Minister of State for Social Affairs and Social Cohesion, Petra Köpping, visited the PEDNET-LC project at the Carl Gustav Carus University Hospital in Dresden. The nationwide network of 65 hospitals and research institutions is working to improve the diagnosis and treatment of children and adolescents with Long COVID-like conditions as well as other post-acute infection and vaccination syndromes. The Federal Ministry of Health is funding the project with a total of 41 million euros over four years.
PD Dr. Nicole Töpfner, senior physician in pediatric infectious diseases at Dresden University Hospital and also a member of the International Research Training Group IRTG3019: MEDIS – Metabolic and Endocrine Drivers of Infection Susceptibility, plays a central role in the project. She coordinates the nationwide care centers in the PEDNET-LC network and serves as deputy project director of the collaborative project.
At Dresden University Hospital, the Outpatient Clinic for Post-Acute Infection and Vaccination Syndromes (PAIVS) and ME/CFS cares for children and adolescents with complex post-infectious clinical presentations. In addition to providing interdisciplinary care for patients, the Dresden team also contributes to the national collection of pediatric biosamples and to research into the underlying disease mechanisms.
Federal Health Minister Nina Warken emphasized during her visit:
“Especially for children and adolescents suffering from Long Covid, we must create nationwide, comprehensive care structures that provide them with targeted assistance. Projects like PEDNET-LC make a decisive contribution here and demonstrate that funding is effective.”
The Medical Director of Dresden University Hospital, Prof. Uwe Platzbecker, also highlighted:
“PEDNET-LC is an excellent example of how university hospitals take responsibility for complex clinical pictures and enable holistic care for those affected.”
The work of the PEDNET-LC network addresses key themes of IRTG3019 MEDIS, which focuses on metabolic and endocrine factors of susceptibility to infection. Post-infectious syndromes such as Long COVID or ME/CFS illustrate how closely metabolism, immune response, and long-term disease progression can be interlinked. Research initiatives such as PEDNET-LC therefore not only contribute to improving care but also provide important impetus for interdisciplinary infection research.
The visit by the Federal Minister of Health underscores the growing political and scientific attention being paid to post-infectious diseases in children and adolescents, as well as the importance of coordinated research and care structures in Germany.
Further information on PEDNET-LC: