Long-term immune and health effects of COVID-19 in people with autoimmune rheumatic diseases
Official title: Immunologic and Clinical Sequelae after COVID-19 in Patients with Systemic Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases
Funded at Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-11289321 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how COVID-19 changes immune responses and causes lingering symptoms in people with autoimmune rheumatic diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $668,445 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AR080659-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11289321 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (for example, rheumatoid arthritis or lupus) who have had confirmed COVID-19 or breakthrough infections and are willing to attend clinic visits and provide blood samples.
✕Less likely to help
People without autoimmune rheumatic diseases or those who have never had COVID-19 would not be the focus and are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
If you take part, researchers will follow people with autoimmune rheumatic diseases who had COVID-19 and track their symptoms over months to see who develops prolonged COVID (PASC). You would give blood samples at several visits so scientists can measure antibodies, B cell changes, autoantibodies, and other immune markers. The team will compare people on different immunomodulatory medications and examine vaccine responses and how long the virus is cleared. Their goal is to link specific immune patterns with recovery, prolonged symptoms, and risk of organ-related complications.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could help doctors predict who is at higher risk for long COVID and guide vaccine and treatment choices for people with autoimmune rheumatic diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown that immunosuppressed people often make weaker antibody responses to COVID-19 and that long COVID can occur, but linking specific immune changes to prolonged symptoms in autoimmune rheumatic diseases remains relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sparks, Jeffrey Andrew — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Sparks, Jeffrey Andrew
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Improving COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake Among Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups with Rheumatic Diseases
A patient-facing program tests a multi-modal approach using storytelling videos and trained patient navigators to help Black and Latinx adults with autoimmune rheumatic diseases get recommended COVID-19 vaccines and boosters.
-
Helping Black and Latinx patients with rheumatic diseases get recommended COVID-19 vaccines
This project helps Black and Latinx adults living with autoimmune rheumatic diseases get their recommended COVID-19 vaccines.
-
Effects of COVID-19 on patients with autoimmune diseases
This study is looking at how COVID-19 affects people with autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, to better understand their immune responses and how their treatments might change their reactions to the virus and vaccines, ultimately aiming to improve their health outcomes.
-
Structural factors linking minimum wage, COVID-19, and community violence
A long-term study will explore whether higher minimum wages and pandemic-related economic factors are connected to changes in violence in US communities.
-
COVID-19 healthcare disruptions and heart health inequities in NYC adults with multiple conditions
This project looks at how COVID-19-related gaps in care affected heart health in adults with several chronic conditions in New York City.
-
Modifying body fat to aid COVID-19 recovery through behavioral strategies
A study in veterans explores whether changing weight through lifestyle habits can improve recovery after COVID-19–related health problems.
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.