Up to £20 million is available for new research projects which aim to understand and address the longer-term physical and mental health effects of COVID-19 in non-hospitalised individuals.
Increasing medical evidence and patient testimony has shown that some people who contract and survive COVID-19 may develop longer-lasting symptoms.
Symptoms can range from breathlessness, chronic fatigue, ‘brain fog’, anxiety and stress and can last for months after initially falling ill.
These ongoing problems, commonly termed ‘Long-COVID’, may be experienced by patients regardless of how severe their COVID-19 infection was and irrespective of whether they were hospitalised.
‘Long-COVID’ in the community
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) are launching a funding opportunity to fund two or three ambitious and comprehensive proposals and a small number of study extensions that will address ‘Long-COVID’ in the community.
This work will complement other major studies already funded by UKRI and NIHR which focus on ‘Long-COVID’ in hospitalised patients, for example:
Projects are expected to start early in the new year and may be funded for up to three years in the first instance.
The funding opportunity will open on 12 November and close on 9 December 2020.