Long-term COVID effects in the Cherokee Nation

Long-term consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 disease among American Indians: an ambidirectional cohort study in the Cherokee Nation

NIH-funded research Cherokee Nation · NIH-11163416

This project looks for lasting health problems after COVID-19 among American Indian people who live in the Cherokee Nation.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionCherokee Nation NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Tahlequah, United States)
Project IDNIH-11163416 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

You would join a group of Cherokee Nation residents who had COVID-19 while researchers review past medical records and follow people over time to track ongoing symptoms. The team will collect information about heart problems, digestive issues, fatigue, dizziness, anxiety, depression, and other health changes that persist after infection. The approach combines retrospective data with new follow-up visits and questionnaires to learn how common symptoms are and how long they last. Findings will be used to build local guidance for predicting, checking, and managing long-term COVID effects in the community.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are American Indian people who live in the Cherokee Nation and have had a prior SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Not a fit: People who never had COVID-19 or who do not live in the Cherokee Nation reservation are unlikely to benefit directly from participating.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could improve recognition and care guidelines for long-term COVID problems in the Cherokee Nation.

How similar studies have performed: Other research has documented persistent post-COVID symptoms in general populations, but this community-focused work in an American Indian population is relatively new.

Where this research is happening

Tahlequah, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.