What is Long COVID?
Long COVID is a term used to describe prolonged or new symptoms after the acute phase of infection from SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Some common symptoms of the condition include fatigue, post-exertional malaise, brain fog, shortness of breath and sleep problems. Learn more in this review article by MHIR’s Drs. Rosen and Emery.
What is the research on Long COVID?
MaineHealth has been actively involved in Long COVID research since 2021, following the receipt of a National Institutes of Health (NIH) award to join the Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery (RECOVER) Initiative. As part of this nationwide effort, MaineHealth participated in a large-scale observational study which will conclude in October 2025. RECOVER enrolled nearly 15,000 adults nationwide, including 120 participants through MaineHealth. Learn more at www.recovercovid.org.
In 2023, Cliff Rosen and his team launched the PROMIS (Pathobiology in RECOVER of Metabolic and Immune Systems) study to expand upon RECOVER’s mission. PROMIS aims to deepen understanding of Long COVID’s underlying biology and uncover strategies for prevention and treatment. This study, which is a collaboration with the University of Kentucky and Pennington Biomedical Research Center, has completed its enrollment of participants and data analysis is underway and expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
MaineHealth is also participating in the RECOVER-ENERGIZE clinical trial, which focuses on exercise intolerance and post-exertional malaise (PEM) that began or worsened following a COVID-19 infection. This trial is currently open to enrollment.
More Information
For questions and more information about ENERGIZE: email ENERGIZE@mainehealth.org
For questions and more information about RECOVER: email RECOVER@mainehealth.org