VACCELERATE

VACCELERATE

Rapid Test Study MAK5-50+

Am 25. Mai 2025 endete die einjährige Laufzeit unserer deutschlandweiten Studie MAK5-50+. Mehr als 3.100 Teilnehmende ab 50 Jahren haben mithilfe eines speziellen Schnelltests getestet, welche Viren bei Erkältungssymptomen nachgewiesen wurden.

Was wurde untersucht?

Ziel der Studie war es, herauszufinden, welche Atemwegsviren aktuell in Deutschland zirkulieren und wie häufig sie auftreten – speziell bei Menschen über 50 Jahren. Die von uns eingesetzten Schnelltests – ähnlich wie bekannte Corona-Selbsttests – konnten gleich fünf verschiedene Erreger (SARS-CoV-2, Influenza A und B Virus, ADV und RSV) detektieren. Die Tests wurden per Post verschickt, die Ergebnisse bequem online eingetragen.

Besonders spannend: Bei einer Stichtagsuntersuchung am 15.12.2025 meldeten 2.419 Teilnehmende (76,5 %) ihre Testergebnisse. Der am häufigsten nachgewiesene Erreger war ADV (n = 39), gefolgt von SARS-CoV-2 (n = 37) und Influenza A Virus (n = 31).

Wie geht es weiter?

Aktuell bereiten wir die umfangreichen Daten auf und werden die Ergebnisse im Spätsommer 2025 in einem Webinar präsentieren. Alle Teilnehmenden erhalten dazu rechtzeitig eine Einladung mit dem Termin und den Zugangsdaten.

Bis dahin können Sie die nach Kalenderwochen aufgeschlüsselten Testergebnisse weiterhin hier einsehen: https://vaccelerate.eu/mak-5-50/

Wenn Sie künftig über neue Studien und Teilnahmemöglichkeiten informiert werden möchten, tragen Sie sich gerne in unser Freiwilligenregister ein: https://v-reg.eu/

 

On May 25, 2025, the one-year duration of our nationwide study MAK5-50+ in Germany came to an end. More than 3,100 participants aged 50 and over used a special rapid test to identify which viruses were present during episodes of cold-like symptoms.

What was investigated?

The goal of the study was to determine which respiratory viruses are currently circulating in Germany and how frequently they occur—specifically among people over the age of 50. The rapid tests we used—similar to common COVID-19 self-tests—were able to detect five different pathogens (SARS-CoV-2, Influenza A and B viruses, ADV, and RSV). The tests were sent by mail, and participants conveniently submitted their results online.

Particularly interesting: In a point prevalence on December 15, 2025, 2,419 participants (76.5%) reported their test results. The most frequently detected virus was ADV (n = 39), followed by SARS-CoV-2 (n = 37) and Influenza A virus (n = 31).

What’s next?

We are currently analyzing the comprehensive data and will present the results in a webinar in late summer 2025. All participants will receive an invitation with the date and access information in due time.

In the meantime, you can continue to view the test results broken down by calendar week here:
https://vaccelerate.eu/mak-5-50/

If you would like to be informed about future studies and participation opportunities, feel free to sign up for our volunteer registry:
https://v-reg.eu/

 

What is VACCELERATE?

 

VACCELERATE is a pan-European clinical research network established to accelerate vaccine trials and pandemic preparedness. Funded by the European Union under the Horizon 2020 program, the project aimed to streamline and harmonize clinical trial efforts across Europe, facilitating rapid access to trial sites, expert teams, and standardized protocols.

Key aspects of VACCELERATE include:

  • Building a clinical trial network across Europe and associated countries
  • Expediting (vaccine) research by coordinating trials efficiently
  • Engaging the public through initiatives like the Volunteer Registry to increase participation in clinical studies
  • Harmonizing data collection to improve research quality and comparability
  • Providing training and capacity-building for clinical researchers
  • Investigating vaccines in under-researched populations (e.g., children and the elderly)

Although the EU funding for VACCELERATE has ended on 27 January 2025, the established infrastructure and collaborations are expected to continue supporting future (vaccine) research and public health initiatives.

Questions? Remarks? Contact us: info@vaccelerate.eu. 

Social media updates after 27 January 2025 on https://bsky.app/profile/olivercornely.bsky.social and https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliver-a-cornely-7859b747/.

Continued VACCELERATE Infrastructure

VACCELERATE Study Nurse Course

Find out more about this VACCELERATE course providing the needed expertise to conduct a clinical trial

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Volunteer Registry

> 107.000 Volunteers

We have set up a database in which you can register if you are interested in participating in a clinical study.

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Clinical Trial Sites

525 Sites

The VACCELERATE Site Network is a platform for experienced clinical trial sites interested in conducting (vaccine) studies. You can register by answering a short questionnaire.

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Partners

Project updates between February 2021 and January 2025: