Bringing better Long COVID care to St. Louis and rural Missouri
Official title: Advancing Long COVID Care in our Community through Access, Equity, and Collaboration
Funded at Washington University · NIH-11192930 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project is expanding local Long COVID services and support so more people in St. Louis and rural Missouri can get timely diagnosis, treatment, and help with daily life.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2023 |
| Project end | September 29, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $910,126 |
| NIH project number | 5U18HS029911-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11192930 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people living in St. Louis or rural Missouri who have ongoing symptoms after COVID-19, such as fatigue, brain fog, breathing problems, or autonomic symptoms.
✕Less likely to help
People who do not have Long COVID symptoms or who live outside the project’s geographic service area are unlikely to benefit directly.
What this research studies
This project will turn a university Long COVID clinic into a broader community network that connects patients, primary care providers, and specialists. It will hire additional clinicians, build clinical capacity, and work to remove structural barriers that keep people from getting care. The effort focuses on serving the Black community in St. Louis and rural communities across Missouri through outreach, partnerships, and support for primary care. Patients can expect more local access to multidisciplinary care, help navigating services, and resources tailored to community needs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, more people with Long COVID in the targeted communities could get faster access to coordinated care, symptom management, and support services.
How similar studies have gone: Multidisciplinary Long COVID clinics have helped many patients, but using a community network model to expand equitable access is a newer approach with limited prior data.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cheng, Abby Ling-Lee — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Cheng, Abby Ling-Lee
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Defining neutrophil biology in pediatric Long COVID
This project looks at why some kids develop Long COVID by studying neutrophils to help find new ways to diagnose and treat the condition.
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Advancing Long COVID Care in Our Community through Access and Collaboration
A community-focused project to make long COVID care more accessible and equitable for people in St. Louis and rural Missouri.
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Pediatric Long COVID Care Network: Improving access and coordinated care for children
A nationwide pediatric program is testing a patient-centered, multi-disciplinary approach to help children with long COVID, especially in underserved communities.
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Comunidad: Expanding Long COVID care in underserved South Texas
A new program will broaden and coordinate Long COVID care for underserved communities in San Antonio and South Texas to improve access and outcomes.
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Atlanta Long COVID Coordinated Care Model for Diverse Populations
A regional program in Atlanta aims to improve access and coordination of care for people with Long COVID, especially in underserved communities.
-
Long COVID Care Resources and Education to Improve Community Health
A program to support federally-qualified health centers in providing better Long COVID care through education, a shared hub, and easy referral pathways for underserved communities.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.