Understanding why Long COVID affects women more than men
Official title: Assessing the mechanisms underlying female sex-predominance in Long COVID
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11399089 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at why women are more likely to have Long COVID by studying immune responses in women who had COVID-19.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | August 22, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $864,932 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI193318-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11399089 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with a history of COVID-19 who are part of the LIINC cohort, especially women with Long COVID.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without Long COVID or those not in the LIINC cohort may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will use data and blood samples from an existing group of participants with and without Long COVID to explore immune patterns that may keep the virus and related infections active. They focus on how stronger early immune signals in women could affect long-term health and promote autoantibody production and inflammation. The study combines analysis of long-term blood samples with information on hormones and chromosome factors to explain the female predominance. Findings could point toward targeted strategies for prevention and treatment of Long COVID in women.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to more personalized approaches to prevent or treat Long COVID in women.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has linked immune dysregulation to Long COVID, but this project tests specific mechanisms in women.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Peluso, Michael Joseph — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Peluso, Michael Joseph
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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.