Why some COVID-19 infections last a long time
Dissecting the drivers of persistent SARS-CoV-2 infections
This project will look for the factors that let COVID-19 keep replicating in people, especially those with weakened immune systems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11134627 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's point of view, the team will use medical records and clinical information from people treated in New York City together with detailed viral genetic data to see why some infections persist. They will combine computer analyses of large datasets with laboratory studies of viral samples and immune responses, including B and T cells. The researchers will focus on people with prolonged positive tests and link changes in the virus to treatments, immune status, and clinical course. Findings are intended to reveal how long infections continue and which interventions may change that outcome.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people—particularly those with weakened immune systems—who have had prolonged SARS-CoV-2 infection or repeated positive tests and who can share medical records or samples with the Mount Sinai team.
Not a fit: People who had a single, brief COVID-19 illness that cleared quickly or who cannot provide access to their clinical records or samples are unlikely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help prevent or better treat long-lasting COVID-19 infections and reduce the chances that new viral variants emerge.
How similar studies have performed: Reports have already documented prolonged infections and within-patient viral evolution in immunocompromised people, but applying large clinical record sets together with deep viral genomics to define specific drivers is a newer, more comprehensive approach.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Simon, Viviana a — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Simon, Viviana a
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.