NIH Grants $470 Million for Study of Long COVID

The study aims to recruit 40,000 adults and children to get a better sense of the condition that can last weeks or months after infection.

Written byLisa Winter

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After becoming infected with SARS-CoV-2, the majority of people recover in a couple of weeks. For a significant number of patients, though, symptoms can hang on for more than four months, a condition known as long COVID. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced yesterday (September 15) that it has awarded a $470 million grant to the REsearching COVID to Enhance Recovery (RECOVER) Initiative to study 40,000 people for more insights into the mechanisms behind the condition, along with possible treatments.

In June, the NIH announced the creation of the RECOVER Initiative to study how and why some people with past SARS-CoV-2 infections experience symptoms such as fatigue, loss of taste and/or smell, coughing, and mental fog for months on end. RECOVER now boasts more than 100 researchers from more than 30 institutions, and close to half a billion dollars in funding.

“We know some people ...

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Meet the Author

Lisa Winter
Lisa joined The Scientist in 2017. As social media editor, some of her duties include creating content, managing interactions, and developing strategies for the brand’s social media presence. She also contributes to the News & Opinion section of the website. Lisa holds a degree in Biological Sciences with a concentration in genetics, cell, and developmental biology from Arizona State University and has worked in science communication since 2012.
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