The PROMIS study will examine whether SARS-CoV2 virus remains trapped in the fat tissue of patients with Long COVID.
PORTLAND, Maine 鈥� The (MHIR) has been awarded $802,753 by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to explore a theorized cause of Long COVID. The Pathobiology in RECOVER of Metabolic and Immune Systems (PROMIS) study will examine whether the virus that causes COVID remains hidden in the fat tissue of patients with Long COVID, stressing their immune systems to the point of potential failure.
The study is part of the nationwide that seeks to understand, prevent and find treatments for Long COVID. Long COVID is a term used to describe prolonged or new symptoms after the acute phase of infection from SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Some common symptoms of the condition include fatigue, brain fog, shortness of breath and sleep problems.
鈥淧art of the challenge with treating Long COVID is that we still don鈥檛 know what causes it,鈥� said Cliff Rosen, MD, Senior Scientist at MHIR and the study鈥檚 Principal Investigator. 鈥淚f we can prove that the virus persists in the fat tissue of patients with Long COVID, we can start targeting treatments that impact that part of the body.鈥�
Dr. Rosen, along with MHIR colleagues and co-Principal Investigators Ivette Emery, PhD, and Sergey Ryzhov, MD, PhD, will work with colleagues at the University of Kentucky and Pennington Biomedical Research Center at Louisiana State University to examine the blood of 60 current RECOVER study participants in Maine, Kentucky and Louisiana. Scientists will test for the virus as well as certain proteins that the virus may be activating, causing Long COVID symptoms.
MHIR will also be taking fat tissue biopsies from participants in collaboration with investigators at Brigham and Women鈥檚 Hospital, Stanford University and the University of Oregon. Together, scientists will analyze tissue samples to see if they carry the virus, and whether they are creating substances that can lead the immune system to cause fatigue, brain fog and other Long COVID symptoms.
鈥淲e know people with Type 2 diabetes and obesity are at higher risk for Long COVID,鈥� Dr. Ryzhov said. 鈥淭his study may bring us closer to understanding the biology behind why that is, and may be a first step towards preventing Long COVID, too.鈥�
The study is expected to take one year.
This research was, in part, funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Agreement OT2HL161847-01 The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the official policies, either expressed or implied, of the NIH.
###
About AOA体育平台
AOA体育平台 is a not-for-profit integrated health system whose vision is 鈥淲orking together so our communities are the healthiest in America.鈥� It consists of nine local health systems, a comprehensive behavioral healthcare network, diagnostic services, home health agencies, and 1,700 employed providers working together through the AOA体育平台 Medical Group. With approximately 22,000 employees, AOA体育平台 provides preventive care, diagnosis and treatment to 1.1 million residents in Maine and New Hampshire. It includes Franklin Memorial Hospital/Franklin Community Health Network in Farmington, LincolnHealth in Damariscotta and Boothbay Harbor, Maine Behavioral Healthcare in South Portland, AOA体育平台 Care at Home in Saco, Maine Medical Center in Portland, Memorial Hospital in North Conway, N.H., Mid Coast-Parkview Health in Brunswick, NorDx in Scarborough, Pen Bay Medical Center and Waldo County General Hospital in Rockport and Belfast, Southern Maine Health Care in Biddeford and Sanford, Spring Harbor Hospital in Westbrook and Stephens Memorial Hospital/Western Maine Health Care in Norway. AOA体育平台 Affiliates include Maine General Health in Augusta and Waterville, New England Rehabilitation Hospital in Portland and St. Mary's Regional Medical Center in Lewiston. It is also a significant stakeholder in the AOA体育平台 Accountable Care Organization in Portland.