In this final newsletter, I wanted to highlight one of my favorite sources for new research on COVID-19 and Long COVID (and one that published a new paper recently): the Patient-Led Research Collaborative (PLRC). PLRC is a group of people with Long COVID and related chronic diseases, such as ME/CFS and POTS, who also have scientific research experience.
Despite impacting millions of people prior to the pandemic, ME/CFS is not well studied; research into the condition is underfunded, and doctors typically don’t learn about it during their training. A new paper from the Rochester Mayo Clinic and ME Action, a ME/CFS advocacy group, may help change this, by offering guidelines for doctors who have patients with this condition.
Scientists are moving closer to biomarkers, or clear biological indicators, of Long COVID. A new study—posted this week in Nature ahead of full publication—identifies clear differences between blood samples of people who have the condition and those who don’t.
Sources and updates for the week of September 3 include a new CDC updates page, Long COVID research, and people who are more vulnerable to severe COVID-19.
Sources and updates for the week of August 27 include funding from Project Next Gen, wastewater testing for more viruses, health misinformation, and more.