Understanding heart issues after severe COVID-19

Immunologic basis of cardiac disease after severe COVID-19

NIH-funded research University of Minnesota · NIH-11110480

This project looks at how the immune system might cause heart problems in people who had severe COVID-19.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Minnesota NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Minneapolis, United States)
Project IDNIH-11110480 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Many people who get severe COVID-19 experience heart complications during their illness, and some continue to have heart and lung symptoms for months afterward, known as "Long COVID." This project wants to understand if the body's immune response to severe COVID-19 leads to inflammation and injury that can cause long-term heart scarring and problems with heart function. Researchers are collecting blood samples from patients with COVID-19 at different times, from admission to months after recovery. They will also perform heart imaging (CMR) and other tests on these participants to see how their hearts are doing over time.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are individuals who have experienced severe COVID-19 and are willing to participate in long-term follow-up, including blood draws and cardiac assessments.

Not a fit: Patients who have not had severe COVID-19 or are not experiencing cardiac complications after COVID-19 may not directly benefit from this specific research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: This work could help us better understand and potentially prevent or treat long-term heart problems in people who have recovered from severe COVID-19.

How similar studies have performed: While the long-term cardiac effects of COVID-19 are still being understood, this project builds on ongoing patient enrollment and aims to provide novel insights into the immune mechanisms involved.

Where this research is happening

Minneapolis, 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 2026-06-09 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.