RECOVER: Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery
We're building a nationwide study population to support research on the long-term effects of COVID-19. Join the search for answers.
Learn MoreRECOVER, a research initiative from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), seeks to understand, prevent, and treat PASC, including Long COVID. PASC stands for post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 and is a term scientists are using to study the potential consequences of a SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Progress takes people like you.
Learning comes from listening. Your experiences help frame NIH's research questions. The scientists and health professionals involved in RECOVER research are committed to engaging people whose health is adversely affected by this virus.
Progress takes inclusion.
COVID-19 has affected millions. While many people are suffering, racial and ethnic minority groups have been hit the hardest.
"NIH deeply appreciates the contributions of patients who have not fully recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection and who have offered their experiences and insights.... We now ask the patient, medical, and scientific communities to come together to help us understand the long-term effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection."
Francis Collins, MD, PhD
Director, National Institutes of Health
Read More
Risk for COVID-19 Hospitalization by Race/Ethnicity Compared to White, Non-Hispanic Persons
- American Indian or Alaska Native
- 3.5x
- Hispanic or Latino
- 2.8x
- Black or African American
- 2.8x
- Asian
- 1x
Progress takes coordinated action.
Progress takes coordinated action.
Teamwork is at the heart of RECOVER. Many people, groups, and organizations are working together through the RECOVER Consortium to launch multiple studies as part of the RECOVER Initiative. These studies include diverse groups of people, including adults, pregnant women, and children.
The studies will involve participants from:
- Long COVID clinics that treat people with ongoing symptoms
- NIH-supported COVID-19 studies and networks
- Established NIH-supported studies of other diseases and conditions
- Other settings
What is PASC?
SARS-CoV-2 is a virus that can infect the body and is referred to as a SARS-CoV-2 infection. Recovery from SARS-CoV-2 infection can vary from person to person:
Acute Infection:
Most people recover quickly from acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. People with acute infection report symptoms ranging from mild to severe. In some cases, this is diagnosed as COVID-19. Other people don't experience any symptoms of infection. But people who don’t experience symptoms also can be diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Post-acute Experiences, including Long COVID:
For some people, symptoms last weeks or months after the acute infection has passed. This is often referred to as Long COVID. For other people, new symptoms may appear after the acute infection has passed whether they had symptoms during the acute infection or not.
For some people, symptoms last weeks or months after the acute infection has passed. This is often referred to as Long COVID.
For other people, new symptoms may appear after the acute infection has passed whether they had symptoms during the acute infection or not.
PASC:
Together, these and other health effects of the virus are called post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection, or PASC. PASC refers to what happens after the acute infection with the virus and is relevant whether a person has been diagnosed with COVID-19 or not. Even if someone did not experience symptoms, PASC is still relevant because there could be effects after acute infection.
PASC:
Together, these and other health effects of the virus are called post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection, or PASC. PASC refers to what happens after the acute infection with the virus and is relevant whether a person has been diagnosed with COVID-19 or not. Even if someone did not experience symptoms, PASC is still relevant because there could be effects after acute infection.
Given the number of adults and children who have been or will be infected with SARS-CoV-2, the public health impact of PASC could be very large.
Latest Updates
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Understanding Long COVID: The Unseen Public Health Crisis
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health hosts a free, online discussion that brings together clinicians, researchers, policy experts, and long COVID patients.
November 19, 2021
Understanding Long COVID: The Unseen Public Health Crisis -
NIH builds large nationwide study population of tens of thousands to support research on long-term effects of COVID-19
The NIH awarded nearly $470 million to build a national study population of diverse research volunteers and support large-scale studies on the long-term effects of COVID-19.
September 15, 2021
NIH builds large nationwide study population of tens of thousands to support research on long-term effects of COVID-19 -
NIH makes first infrastructure awards to support research on post COVID conditions
NIH recently announced core resource awards, which will provide critical infrastructure for the new research studies under the RECOVER Initiative.
June 10, 2021
NIH makes first infrastructure awards to support research on post COVID conditions -
New Fact Sheet Available: What is post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC)?
This fact sheet shares what PASC is, who is affected, and what NIH is doing to address it.
June 2021
New Fact Sheet Available: What is post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC)?
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To ensure this research is informed by patients, RECOVER will engage regularly with people who have experienced SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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