Long COVID is a post-infectious condition in which symptoms persist or develop for at least three months after acute COVID-19 infection. It can have ongoing health and functional impacts across multiple organ systems.
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has cut off continuing funding for at least 73 projects, totaling over $102 million in committed funds. HHS says the move serves the federal government's best interest, but researchers warn that mid-stream grant freezes waste already-spent money and threaten the training of future health-care scientists.
Two new studies advance Lyme disease research: anti-lipid antibodies may enable earlier diagnosis and detect persistent symptoms, while cell wall changes in Borrelia burgdorferi offer insights into Lyme arthritis pathogenesis and potential treatment targets.
HHS launches broad initiative to boost US clinical trials amid global competition with China. FDA introduces real-time clinical trial monitoring and expedited programs. NIH Long COVID trials set to begin enrolling participants in summer 2026.
Vaccine denial and weakened public health measures risk increasing chronic illness, as historical data shows post-infectious conditions follow major outbreaks. Long COVID affects 10-20% of those infected, while historical pandemics led to conditions like encephalitis lethargica with near 50% mortality.
Long COVID patients continue to suffer as federal research funding and support programs have been dramatically scaled back, with the Office of Long COVID Research and Practice closed and NIH grants disrupted. The chronic condition affects as many as a third of COVID-19 survivors with over 200 possible symptoms, yet experts say the disease remains difficult to research amid politicization. Medical professionals warn that reduced resources undermine diagnosis, treatment, and the professional pipeline for new research.
Two new studies reveal long COVID's lasting biological and mental health effects. A mouse study found coronavirus triggers prolonged lung and brain damage unlike influenza, while a population study linked long COVID to significantly higher depression and anxiety risks up to three years post-infection.
GLP-1 drugs are still being studied for Alzheimer’s and addiction after semaglutide failed to slow cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s. A 2025 abstract reported semaglutide slowed cognitive impairment in an Alzheimer’s model.
A 16-year study links higher vitamin D levels in middle age to lower tau protein deposits in the brain, while a major COVID-19 trial finds vitamin D doesn't reduce acute severity but may help with long COVID recovery. Separate research shows supplementation improves vitamin D levels and stabilizes immune profiles in athletes and non-athletes.
Recent studies reveal metformin's varied effects: it may extend lifespan in older women with diabetes by 30 percent, but failed to improve long COVID symptoms when given after infection developed.
Aethlon Medical reported Q3 2026 financial results with a $2.06 million operating loss while advancing its Australian oncology trial of the Hemopurifier device. The company achieved 27% year-to-date cost reductions and targets a late March safety review.
| NCT ID | Title | Status | Phase |
|---|---|---|---|
| NCT07770022 |
Validation of Biomarkers for Long COVID in the LIINC Viral Immunopathogenesis and Persistence Repeat Donor Cohort (VIPER) |
RECRUITING | |
| NCT07766512 |
Five-year Follow-up After Sars-CoV-2 Infection: Prevalence and Evolution of Post-acute Sequalae of COVID-19 (PASC) |
NOT_YET_RECRUITING | |
| NCT07714889 |
Development of an Accessible Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Digital Therapeutic for Individuals With Long COVID |
WITHDRAWN | NA |
| NCT07709234 |
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Long COVID Brain Fog and Fatigue |
NOT_YET_RECRUITING | NA |
| NCT07697261 |
Fatigue in Long COVID |
NOT_YET_RECRUITING | NA |
| NCT07694232 |
A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of Homeopathic Treatment for Long COVID |
NOT_YET_RECRUITING | NA |
| NCT07682402 |
Taurine Supplementation in Adolescents With Post-COVID Condition |
NOT_YET_RECRUITING | PHASE1/PHASE2 |
| NCT07661862 |
PERCEIVE-Outreach: A Scalable, Risk-Based Model for Managing Persistent Cardiovascular Impact in Long COVID |
RECRUITING | NA |
| NCT07651371 |
Effects of a Physical Rehabilitation Program on Long COVID |
COMPLETED | NA |
| NCT07627815 |
Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of PNMR as Treatment for Long COVID |
RECRUITING | PHASE2 |
