Dysbiosis & Long COVID (NCT06825819)
DETERMINING THE IMPACT OF MICROBIAL DYSBIOSIS ON IMMUNE AND BARRIER DYSFUNCTION IN LONG COVID
🩺 Plain-English Summary (8th-Grade Level)
The SARS-CoV-2 virus causes COVID-19, which ranges from mild initial symptoms to severe multi-organ dysfunction. While some patients recover to their baseline states, others develop a long COVID, or post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC) consisting of symptoms persisting \>2-6 months post-infection. PASC symptoms include post-exertional malaise, fatigue, and heart palpitations as well as incident GI disorders, cognitive dysfunction, and arthritis. Based on prevalence/incidence studies, it is estimated that more than 30 million people in the US have ever developed PASC with 10-11% of patients or 11 million people continuing to feel symptoms to the present day10. SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are only \~32% effective against infection at 4 months post-vaccination11, only 15% effective against the development of PASC12, and only 20% of American adults have received an updated booster as of December 202313. It is therefore imperative that the scientific community make progress in identifying underlying causes of PASC to develop effective treatments. This study will identify microbial metabolites associated with PASC-mediated gut dysbiosis and establish a tractable in vitro model to test T cell-gut epithelium dynamics to develop novel bio-therapeutics for multiple post-viral conditions. This case-control study will collect biospecimens (matched stool \& blood) samples from 400 people with and without long COVID (200 participants/group) to understand how COVID-induced dysbiosis impacts symptom severity, immune suppression, and gut barrier dysfunction both ex vivo and in vitro.
Who can join: Review the eligibility criteria below.
Location: The University of Chicago — Chicago, Illinois
Age range: 18 Years to 80 Years
🧪 Interventions in This Study
📋 "Do I Qualify?" — 1-Minute Self Screener
Instant ChecklistFull eligibility criteria are available on the official NIH protocol. View the criteria ↗
📍 All Participating Trial Locations (1 Sites)
- The University of Chicago — Chicago, Illinois
📞 Contact the Study Coordinator
Phone: (773) 834-5087
Email: lavanya.visvabharathy@bsd.uchicago.edu
Coordinator details come directly from the registered NIH protocol. Confirm the study is still recruiting before traveling.
💰 Cost, Insurance & Patient Rights
- 100% Free Items: The investigational treatment and protocol-required procedures are supplied at zero cost by the sponsor.
- Routine Patient Care: Under federal law (ACA § 2709) and many state statutes, routine care costs are covered during participation.
- Voluntary Participation: You may withdraw at any time without affecting your standard medical care.
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- COVID-19, Chronic Adaptation and Response to Exercise (COVID-CARE) — Bethesda, Maryland
- Identification and Characterization of SARS-CoV-2 Specific CD8 T Cells in Humans — Baltimore, Maryland
- Canadian Adaptive Platform Trial of Treatments for COVID-19 in Community Settings — Calgary, Alberta
- A Nasal Treatment for COVID-19 — Indianapolis, Indiana
Explore by condition: All COVID-19 clinical trials
💡 How to Participate
- Check the checklist above to see if you may qualify.
- Contact the study coordinator using the phone/email above.
- Ask about the visit schedule, what is covered at no cost, and any travel support.
- Confirm with your own doctor before making a decision.