The extensive alliance project lays the foundation for diverse and comprehensive research on the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus in Berlin. The participating researchers from Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin, and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin are investigating, among other things, potential active substances, the development of vaccine approaches, and possible health policy consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic. The pre-exploration project has been funded since July 2020 with approximately 1.8 million euros by the Berlin University Alliance as part of its Grand Challenge Initiative on Global Health.

Rapid and adequate action, as well as sufficient funding for research, are largely responsible for the successful long-term fight against rapidly spreading infectious diseases. For this reason, the Board of Directors of the Berlin University Alliance already decided positively on the funding of the Coronavirus Pre-Exploration Project in spring 2020. The project is dedicated to the study of the SARS coronavirus 2 pandemic, from the study of the virus in cell culture to the analysis of the impact of the pandemic on the health system.