This Keystone Symposia meeting on 'Long COVID and Other Post-Acute Infection Syndromes (PAIS),' will assemble global experts from various fields to explore critical dimensions and pathophysiology of these debilitating conditions. The symposium aims to address several diagnostic and therapeutic challenges and identify potential solutions for achieving a consensus on clinical phenotypes, diagnostic criteria, diagnostic biomarkers, clinical trial design and endpoints, and treatments.

The program will explore underlying heterogeneity of disease mechanisms ranging from persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection, to autoimmunity, microbiome dysbiosis, latent virus reactivation, chronic inflammation, metabolic, autonomic and endocrine abnormalities, organ damage, coagulation, and immune dysregulation. Examining the pathophysiology of Long COVID alongside other PAIS, including ME/CFS, post-Lyme, and others, will shed light on overlaps and distinctions between these diseases, providing key insights into common underlying disease pathogenesis, clinical phenotypes, and therapeutic targets.

The meeting will also incorporate discussions on epidemiology, encompassing demographics and comorbidities that influence both risk and recovery of these conditions. In addition, we will explore methodologies such as machine learning to unravel the multifaceted nature of these diseases, which will be instrumental in identifying symptom clusters, biological signatures and treatment responses. The potential connection between Long COVID and neurodegenerative diseases will be examined.

We will spotlight ongoing and upcoming clinical trials, underscoring their pivotal role in advancing the understanding of disease mechanisms, therapeutic options, and enhancing outcomes for individuals living with Long COVID and PIAS. In addition, the development of relevant animal models will be covered, to enable translational research insights. Our ultimate objective is to catalyze collaborative interactions among researchers, clinicians, and patients from different backgrounds, fostering a proactive and accelerated approach to unraveling the complexities of Long COVID and other PAIS, and formulating effective strategies for diagnosis, treatment, and care.