Studies
RECOVER researchers conduct a wide variety of studies and collaborate across different study types to answer critical questions about Long COVID.
Overview
RECOVER is a first-of-its-kind, patient-centered research initiative to understand, diagnose, prevent, and treat Long COVID.
All RECOVER researchers use a standardized study plan (protocol). These protocols allow researchers across different study types, locations, and research networks to combine data and share findings.
RECOVER works with thousands of study participants and millions of data points collected from people across the country.
- Clinical trials test different possible treatments for symptoms experienced by people living with Long COVID.
- Observational cohort and electronic health record (EHR) studies use health data to understand how people are experiencing Long COVID.
- Pathobiology and tissue pathology (autopsy) studies examine small amounts of tissue and bodily fluids (called biosamples or biospecimens) to understand the changes in the body that can cause Long COVID.
Researchers inside and outside of RECOVER can conduct ancillary studies using RECOVER data and biospecimens. These ancillary studies seek answers to important questions about Long COVID that are beyond the original scope of RECOVER.
Research Questions
The goal of RECOVER is to understand, diagnose, prevent, and treat the long-term effects of COVID-19. These 8 guiding research questions and their answers help us achieve our goal.
What are the various forms of Long COVID and how are they related?
How long do Long COVID symptoms last? Can there be effects later in life?
What effects does Long COVID have on other diseases or health problems?
What are the risk factors for developing Long COVID?
What effects do different COVID-19 variants or COVID-19 vaccines have on Long COVID?
What happens inside the body that leads to Long COVID?
What happens inside the body that protects some people from Long COVID?
What types of treatments work best to treat or prevent Long COVID?
Protocols
RECOVER studies use research protocols to keep all the studies on track. A protocol is a detailed, step-by-step plan that researchers follow.
RECOVER research teams who are studying the same group of people or the same type of treatment follow the same research protocol. This way, researchers working on the same study can collect the same type of information even if they don’t work together directly.
Each RECOVER research protocol covers topics like:
- What is the goal of the study?
- Who is eligible to take part in the study?
- How are people in the study protected against risks?
- Which tests, procedures, and treatments will researchers use?
- How long is the study expected to last?
- How will researchers collect information?
- How will researchers use this information?
Protocols also help researchers make connections across different studies and study types. These connections help us find answers about Long COVID faster.
Participation
Below is a brief update on the current status of enrollment in active RECOVER studies.
Clinical Trials
Stay tuned for upcoming clinical trials.
Observational Cohort Studies
Adult Cohort
Pediatric Cohort
Pregnancy Cohort
Data Privacy
Protecting RECOVER study participants’ personal information is a top priority. The data privacy measures RECOVER takes include:
- When researchers gather data from medical records, they use only what the study needs.
- Researchers keep study participants anonymous by assigning each one a unique, study-specific ID number.
- All participant information is stored in a secure database. When RECOVER publishes findings, researchers never share information that identifies participants.
