Expanding Long COVID clinic services to reach more diverse patients
Broadening the scale and impact of a comprehensive Long COVID clinic to serve diverse patient groups with multidisciplinary care and research access
This project expands a team-based Long COVID clinic to provide coordinated care and easier access to research for people with ongoing symptoms after COVID-19, especially those from underserved communities.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11121820 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I come to this program, I would be seen by a multidisciplinary team at the UCSF OPTIMAL Long COVID clinic and at San Francisco General Hospital that coordinates medical, rehabilitation, and social-support services. The project will increase clinic capacity and outreach so more people from underserved, vulnerable, and minority groups can get care and join related research. The team will track outcomes such as hospital and emergency department visits to understand whether the changes help people stay healthier. Care is designed to be person-centered and coordinated across specialties to address the complex problems of Long COVID.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with ongoing post-COVID symptoms (Long COVID), particularly those served by UCSF or San Francisco General and from underserved or minority communities, are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without lasting post-COVID symptoms, those who only need inpatient care, or those unable to travel to San Francisco clinics are unlikely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Patients could get faster, more coordinated Long COVID care, improved access for underserved groups, and more chances to join research that may lead to better treatments.
How similar studies have performed: The existing UCSF OPTIMAL clinic has already been associated with lower odds of hospitalization and emergency visits, though scaling equitable access to more sites remains to be tested.
Where this research is happening
San Francisco, United States
- University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Santhosh, Lekshmi — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Santhosh, Lekshmi
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 below.