By IDSE News Staff
The Department of Health and Human Services plans to form the Office of Long COVID Research and Practice to lead the long-COVID response and coordination across the federal government. In addition, the National Institutes of Health launched long-COVID clinical trials through the RECOVER Initiative.
“The Office of Long COVID Research and Practice will enhance efforts being undertaken across the U.S. government to improve the lives of those who continue to experience the long-term impacts of the worst public health crisis in a century,” said Admiral Rachel Levine, MD, the HHS assistant secretary for health, whose office will lead the program. “Bringing together the resources and expertise of federal, state, and local partners, patients, providers, researchers, and the business sector to answer the American peoples most urgent calls to action.”
The NIH RECOVER Initiative is a $1.15 billion nationwide research program designed to understand, treat and prevent long COVID. More than 200 symptoms are associated with long COVID, and the condition can cause problems throughout the body, affecting nearly all body systems including the nervous, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, pulmonary, autonomic and immune systems.
Launched in 2021, RECOVER established one of the largest, most diverse study groups of patients with long COVID in the world. The initial stage of the initiative involved launching large observational multisite studies examining and following people through their experience with COVID-19 to learn why some people develop long-term symptoms while others recover completely.
These studies are ongoing and have recruited more than 24,000 participants to date. Researchers also are analyzing 60 million electronic health records and conducting more than 40 pathobiology studies on how COVID-19 affects different body tissues and organs. This study cohort participated in RECOVER observational studies that allowed researchers to characterize the condition in great detail, which is critical for informing the development of clinical trials to test interventions. The clinical trials are designed so multiple treatments and therapies can be studied across five focus areas. Platform protocols for two of these areas were posted on July 31, with enrollment for these trials being done throughout the summer.
“As our nation continues to make strides in combating COVID-19, it is crucial that we address the impact of Long COVID and provide resources to those in need,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, in a statement.
