Heart MRI to understand lingering heart and breathing problems after COVID-19
Cardiac Magnetic Resonance for Tissue Characterization Based Risk Stratification of Cardiopulmonary Symptoms, Effort Tolerance, and Prognosis Among COVID-19 Survivors
Using detailed heart MRI scans to see whether tissue changes in the heart explain ongoing breathlessness, fatigue, and reduced exercise ability in people who survived COVID-19.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11141749 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project invites people who survived COVID-19 to receive advanced cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging to look for tissue changes such as scarring or swelling. Researchers will link those MRI findings with symptoms, exercise tolerance, and clinical outcomes using an active multi-ethnic New York City survivor registry. The study compares MRI tissue markers to standard clinical exams and heart function measures to determine whether MRI adds useful information. Participants will have clinical follow-up to track symptoms and prognosis over time.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who previously had COVID-19—especially those with ongoing breathlessness, fatigue, palpitations, or reduced exercise tolerance—are the ideal candidates for this work.
Not a fit: People without a history of COVID-19 or those whose symptoms are clearly due to non-cardiac causes (for example, isolated deconditioning without heart concerns) may not benefit directly from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could help explain why some people have persistent cardiopulmonary symptoms after COVID-19 and guide who needs closer monitoring or targeted treatment.
How similar studies have performed: Early and small studies, including the investigators' preliminary data, have found heart tissue abnormalities on MRI after COVID-19, but larger, less-biased studies are needed to confirm these findings and link them to symptoms and outcomes.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kim, Jiwon — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
- Study coordinator: Kim, Jiwon
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.