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RECOVER: Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery

Long COVID is real. Millions of people who had COVID-19 still have symptoms lasting weeks, months, or years.

We created RECOVER to understand, treat, and prevent Long COVID and help people who are suffering.

Learn more about Long COVID

The RECOVER Initiative

Millions of Americans suffer from Long COVID. This disease affects each person differently, so no single research study can provide all the answers to Long COVID for everyone. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) created the RECOVER Initiative to find answers across many different types of research studies.

RECOVER brings together clinicians, scientists, caregivers, patients, and community members to understand, treat, and prevent Long COVID. We’ve created one of the largest and most diverse groups of Long COVID study participants in the world.

We’re learning about Long COVID and testing different treatments. We’re sharing our research, quickly learning from it, adapting, and constantly refocusing our efforts to ease suffering for millions of people.

Together, we are working to understand, treat, and prevent Long COVID.

Explore RECOVER’s progress and find out how to get involved:

RECOVER Research

Each RECOVER research team can use all RECOVER data and findings to inform and improve their study. This way, we can learn more quickly about this complex condition and better understand, treat, and prevent Long COVID.

Learning from People

Researchers study the health and symptoms of thousands of participants over several years. No treatments or medicines are provided.

Researchers study people who have died after having COVID, including people who did not have Long COVID.

Clinical Science

Researchers study lab samples from people with and without Long COVID to understand how COVID affects different body systems.

Graphic showing the interaction of the RECOVER project's Research Components and Information Exchange.

All Data Shared

Four concepts interact to integrate the information gained from the groups into the overall RECOVER project.

Learning from People

This includes information from Tissue Pathology/Autopsy, as well as Cohort- and Community-based Study Groups.

Clinical Science

This includes information from Pathobiology.

Real World Data

This includes information from Electronic Health Records and the Digital Health Program.

Studying Treatments

This receives data and information from the other components and integrates that knowledge gained into Clinical Trials.

Real World Data

Researchers study millions of medical records, called EHR, to understand changes over time, learn who may have Long COVID, and learn how to treat or prevent it.

Studying Treatments

Researchers study possible treatments such as drugs, medical devices, or other approaches to learn how to treat Long COVID symptoms.

Large circle with four small circles inside illustrating the RECOVER project's Research Components and Information Exchange. There are arrows connecting each of the four components: Learning from the People, Clinical Science, Real World Data, and Studying Treatments. The large circle communicates that all data is shared between the different types of RECOVER research.

RECOVER Research

Each RECOVER research team can use all RECOVER data and findings to inform and improve their study. This way, we can learn more quickly about this complex condition and better understand, treat, and prevent Long COVID.

Learning from People

Researchers study the health and symptoms of thousands of participants over several years. No treatments or medicines are provided.

Researchers study people who have died after having COVID, including people who did not have Long COVID.

Clinical Science

Researchers study lab samples from people with and without Long COVID to understand how COVID affects different body systems.

Real World Data

Researchers study millions of medical records, called EHR, to understand changes over time, learn who may have Long COVID, and learn how to treat or prevent it.

Studying Treatments

Researchers study possible treatments such as drugs, medical devices, or other approaches to learn how to treat Long COVID symptoms.

All Data Shared

Data is shared between the different types of RECOVER research to inform clinical trials.

RECOVER by the Numbers

Portraits of people living with long-COVID.
RECOVER Enrollment Summary

Enrollment in Cohort Studies

12,590
Adult Cohort Enrollment (non-Pregnant)
Goal: 12,580
2,139
Pregnant Adult Enrollment
Goal: 2,300
13,420
Pediatric Enrollment
Goal: 19,300

How Can I Participate?

For People With and Without Long COVID

Participants in RECOVER observational cohort studies join for several years to help understand:

  • Who gets Long COVID and why
  • What symptoms people have
  • How Long COVID affects people’s health over time

RECOVER cohort study participants are adults aged 26 or older, pregnant people, and children and young adults aged 25 or younger. These studies do not give treatments or medicine to participants.

Cohort Studies
Testing Treatments for Long COVID

RECOVER clinical trials test the safety and effectiveness of treatments for symptoms of Long COVID. These studies are informed by patient Representatives and the findings from other RECOVER studies.

The clinical trials will test multiple possible treatments for Long COVID symptoms. Treatments include drugs, biologics (medicines that come from blood or plasma), medical devices, and other therapies.

Clinical Trials

Explore COVID-19 Resources

Find information to help reach communities hit hardest by the pandemic.

Access NIH Long COVID resources, including interactive symptom information.

Find information to help treat patients.

Encuentre recursos en español, sobre el COVID-19.

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