A year of discovery: Looking back at 2025 and ahead to 2026

Study progress

Clinical trials complete enrollment and publish first results

In 2025, the RECOVER Clinical Trials (RECOVER-CT) program completed enrollment for all 8 of its clinical trials. These trials were designed to test 13 possible treatments to see if they could improve a range of Long COVID symptoms, such as fatigue, inability to exercise or complete physical activity, and sleep disturbances.

In November 2025, RECOVER published the first results from RECOVER-CT in the journal JAMA Neurology. Read results from RECOVER-NEURO Cognitive Dysfunction (BrainHQ, PASC-CoRE, and tDCS), which tested 3 possible treatments to understand whether they could help with cognitive symptoms such as trouble remembering things (brain fog) or problems with focusing and thinking clearly.

In 2026, RECOVER expects to publish papers on the designs of its RECOVER-CT trials, as well as results from additional program trials that are testing possible treatments.

Learn more about RECOVER-CT. 

RECOVER-TLC will test 4 possible treatments for Long COVID

Meanwhile, RECOVER-Treating Long COVID (RECOVER-TLC) continues to plan for additional clinical trials. In September, the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) hosted the second annual RECOVER-TLC workshop. During this event, NIH leaders and Long COVID researchers shared updates about RECOVER-TLC, including the 4 possible treatments that will be tested during the first round of RECOVER-TLC clinical trials.

Between September 2024 and August 2025, members of the Long COVID community submitted almost 600 possible treatments through RECOVER-TLC’s submission portal. These submissions included drugs, medical devices, and health behaviors (like changes to a person’s diet) that might offer relief from Long COVID symptoms. People living with Long COVID submitted most of these possible treatments (72%).

Working groups reviewed these submissions and provided feedback to RECOVER-TLC. The working groups focused on different symptoms and possible causes of Long COVID. Based on this feedback, RECOVER-TLC selected the 4 treatments that will be tested first. As researchers develop plans for these 4 clinical trials, they will seek additional input from the public. Learn about opportunities to provide feedback.

RECOVER-TLC is also still accepting treatment ideas through its submission portal. Anyone can submit information about a drug, medical device, or other possible treatment that could help people suffering from symptoms of Long COVID.

RECOVER-TLC will also host a webinar on January 23, 2026, to share updates from the initiative. Register to attend.

Adult observational study enters its next phase

In October 2025, RECOVER completed the first phase of the adult observational study, marking an important milestone. Adults and pregnant women participating in the first phase of the study played a critical role in helping researchers better understand Long COVID. These participants contributed to studying how a range of factors can impact Long COVID risk, including sex, pregnancy, aging, and social risk factors such as financial hardship.

The next phase of the adult study will invite a smaller group of participants to help researchers continue learning about how Long COVID affects adults over time. 

The pediatric observational study is ongoing. This year, researchers published a study that identified the most common Long COVID symptoms seen in infants and preschool-aged children participating in RECOVER. These findings build on a 2024 RECOVER study that identified common symptoms in children aged 6 to 17 and improve researchers’ understanding of Long COVID across the lifespan.

Explore findings from the adult, pregnancy, and pediatric observational studies.

Researchers publish findings about COVID and Long COVID drawn from electronic health records

RECOVER researchers continue to analyze data in the electronic health records (EHRs) of adults and children. The EHRs used for RECOVER studies are drawn from about 40 health systems that are part of the National Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network (PCORnet®). Researchers designed studies to better understand who develops Long COVID and who does not, which could support prevention strategies. They also used these data to explore long-term problems that people may experience after having COVID.

In 2025, RECOVER EHR researchers published 26 new manuscripts, including papers that explored how different conditions, such as pregnancy or living with HIV, may impact Long COVID risk. 

Explore published findings from EHR studies.

Looking ahead, EHR researchers from the adult and pediatric studies are working together to study how COVID impacts other health conditions, such as heart problems and cancer. In addition, they are collaborating and sharing information with researchers from other RECOVER studies through the following work:

• Pediatric EHR researchers are working with researchers from the pediatric observational study to study how COVID may affect how children grow.
• Adult EHR researchers are working with researchers from the pregnancy observational study to understand how Long COVID may impact pregnancy outcomes.
• Adult and pediatric EHR researchers are working to understand how GLP1-RAs, a medicine used to treat type 2 diabetes, may prevent Long COVID.

Pathobiology program launches new studies, distributes biosamples, and strengthens collaborations

This year, RECOVER released a new Research Opportunity Announcement that will provide funding for approved pathobiology studies. Researchers are invited to submit proposals.

Meanwhile, researchers with currently funded pathobiology studies worked to understand what happens inside the bodies of people who have Long COVID. In March, the program launched 20 new studies that were funded in 2024 by a previous Research Opportunity Announcement (ROA). These studies use RECOVER data and biosamples, along with samples collected outside of RECOVER, to answer additional questions about Long COVID. Researchers have continued to learn how to use NHLBI BioData Catalyst® to access and work with RECOVER data. They are also able to take courses created by the Network of Biostatisticians for RECOVER to support their understanding and analysis of the data.

RECOVER continues to work closely with funded research teams to ensure that they receive data and biosamples that fit their study designs and research aims. Research teams requested biosamples from the adult, pediatric, and tissue pathology (autopsy) studies. So far, 11 of the 20 new pathobiology studies have begun receiving biosamples. 

Pathobiology researchers are also beginning to share early findings through presentations within RECOVER, conference abstracts, and draft articles in preparation for journal submission. In November, 6 pathobiology researchers presented their work at the 3rd Long COVID International Conference in Boston. 

RECOVER tissue pathology (autopsy) study

The RECOVER tissue pathology (autopsy) study continues to work toward identifying potential causes of Long COVID.  

Researchers working on the autopsy study examine the bodies of people who died after having COVID-19. Surviving family members or caregivers give permission for these individuals to participate in the study. To date, the study has enrolled 287 people overall across 6 study sites, including more than 100 people with Long COVID. The study expects to reach its enrollment goal of 350 participants by January 31, 2026.

As part of this study, RECOVER is collecting more than 50 different tissue samples (biosamples) from each study participant. These biosamples are added to the study’s Digital Slide Archive, an online database that contains detailed images of the samples.

Some of the most important details in these images are produced by staining tissue samples with chemicals. This process allows researchers to look at the samples under a microscope and identify specific COVID-related changes, such as swelling, tiny blood clots, and cell damage.

Findings from this study will build on results from RECOVER’s adult observational study. For example, the observational study showed that different people experience different symptoms of Long COVID. Findings from the tissue pathology study could shed light on what happens inside people’s bodies to cause these differences. 

Sharing knowledge

RECOVER shares scientific findings with the public and research community

In 2025, RECOVER published 45 papers focused on Long COVID. The publications included new findings on who is at highest risk of developing Long COVID, how the condition shows up in different people, and how the condition affects other new and pre-existing illnesses. The research output reflects a wide range of study approaches and data sources, including:

• 25 electronic health record (EHR) studies
• 12 observational studies
• 5 pathobiology studies
• 4 reviews of research outside of RECOVER
• 1 clinical trial 

These publications highlight RECOVER’s continued commitment to advancing scientific knowledge and making findings accessible to researchers, healthcare providers, and the public. 

Continued availability of data and biosamples enables additional Long COVID research

In December 2025 and January 2026, RECOVER held a 2-part webinar series to share information about how researchers can use RECOVER resources in their own research:

• The December 9 seminar focused on RECOVER data. Read a summary of the seminar.
• The January 13 seminar discussed RECOVER biosamples. Check back on the RECOVER website for a summary and video recording of this event.

To supplement these webinars, RECOVER also created resources that help researchers use study data:

• The Data Access and Availability Guide (PDF, 1 page) helps researchers understand which types of data are available and how to access these data.
• The Research Opportunities and Data Access Flowchart (PDF, 1 page) outlines the steps required to apply for different RECOVER research opportunities. 

In 2026, RECOVER continues its commitment to release data contributed by the nearly 30,000 adults and children who participated and continue to take part in RECOVER observational studies. These data are a valuable resource that can help researchers answer additional questions about Long COVID. Updated data are released quarterly.

Researchers and Representatives continue to share discoveries through RECOVER seminars

Throughout the year, RECOVER held 10 RECOVER Research Review (R3) Seminars focused on a wide range of topics, including:

• Measurable or observable signs (biomarkers) that could be used to diagnose Long COVID.
• Whether metformin, a widely prescribed medication primarily used to manage type 2 diabetes, could help reduce the risk of Long COVID and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).
• Whether taking the antiviral drug Paxlovid while having COVID-19 can help prevent Long COVID.

During these seminars, RECOVER researchers and Representatives share findings from the initiative’s research with the public. This webinar format includes discussion and answers to questions from the attendees. Nearly 1,700 people attended R3 Seminars in 2025, including researchers, academics, patients, caregivers, advocates, healthcare workers, and government agency representatives. In addition to this attendance at the live events, video recordings of the sessions earned over 2,800 views on YouTube.

RECOVER Representatives continue to inform Long COVID research and help share findings

Community engagement remains a cornerstone of the initiative. One way that RECOVER engages the community is through its work with RECOVER Representatives—patients, caregivers, and community members who help ensure that Long COVID research reflects the lived experiences of people affected by the condition. In late 2024 and early 2025, RECOVER welcomed 38 new Representatives, bringing the total number of Representatives to 108.

To date, Representatives have contributed to more than 70 research presentations and publications, with nearly another 100 in progress. Another way Representatives are helping to share RECOVER study findings is through participating in and presenting at conferences and community events. For example, Representatives worked with RECOVER researchers to present findings from the initiative’s adult observational study at the NYU Institute for Excellence in Health Equity.

Representatives have also been instrumental in developing Discover RECOVER videos, which offer a plain language explanation of complex research studies in English and Spanish. This year, Representatives helped create 6 videos on various topics, including Loss of Smell After COVID-19 and Long COVID in Early Childhood.

Stay up to date on RECOVER news in 2026 

In 2026, RECOVER continues to advance research to help people and communities impacted by Long COVID. Check back on recoverCOVID.org and subscribe to the RECOVER Report to stay informed about RECOVER’s latest discoveries.