Vriezergebruik
Gebruik vriezer voor wereldwijd onderzoek naar GBS
21.12.2020
Last year, with the help of the GBS Foundation, a new freezer was purchased with which patient material can be stored at -80 °C and stored for scientific research into GBS. The freezer is now in a secured room in Erasmus MC and is filled with blood samples from patients. These were collected as part of the International GBS Outcome Study (IGOS), a worldwide study of GBS that is coordinated by Erasmus MC.
At the moment 1950 patients are participating in this study and they come from 23 countries (5 continents). The IGOS is the largest GBS research project ever conducted in the world. In addition to these blood samples, detailed data on diagnosis, disease severity and long-term prognosis are also collected from all patients. The material of many of these patients is already stored in this freezer. The material is now used for the first research projects.
Among other things, research is being done on the infections that cause GBS, antibodies that damage the nerve and degradation products that are released during nerve damage. With this research we want to find out the cause of GBS and also understand why patients with GBS differ so much from each other. The blood samples are also being used for research into the treatment of GBS with which we hope to be able to provide a better tailored treatment in the future. Furthermore, the material is also used for research on the relationship between GBS, COVID-19 and genetic factors.
Some of the material is also sent to foreign universities for their research on GBS. The freezer plays an indispensable role in all these projects.
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