A new review article in “Die Pathologie” presents the development and progress of the National Autopsy Network. In April 2020, pathology, neuropathology, and legal medicine first came together to form the german Register for COVID-19 Autopsies (DeRegCOVID). From this successful register, the German Research Network for Autopsies in Pandemics (DEFEAT PANDEMIcs) quickly emerged, which has evolved into the National Autopsy Network (NATON). To date, 33 university and 6 non-university centers are involved in DeRegCOVID and NATON, including two international centers from Austria, which joined for the first time in 2023. The autopsy network has made significant contributions to understanding the pathophysiology of COVID-19, emphasizing the high value of interconnected, autopsy-based research. With the National Autopsy Register (NAREG), the successful work is set to continue for additional applications beyond COVID-19.
