Clinical Research Directory

Cross-Sectional Evaluation of Persistence of SARS-CoV-2 Remnants After Recovery From Acute Infection

Background: SARS-CoV-2 is the virus that causes COVID-19. Some people who recover from COVID-19 have symptoms that last long after the active infection ends. This is called long COVID. Sometimes, long COVID can affect the nerves and cause problems with sleep, thinking, the senses, and movement. Researchers want to find out whether people with long COVID have retained inactive remnants of SARS-CoV-2 in their bodies. Objective: To collect tissue samples to see if people with long COVID have remnants of SARS-CoV-2 in their bodies. Eligibility: People 18 years or older who have recovered from COVID-19, both with and without neurologic symptoms. Design: Participants will have 2 to 4 inpatient or outpatient visits over 4 months. Each visit will last 4 to 5 days. Participants will be screened to make sure it is safe to collect tissue samples from their body. They will have a physical and dental exam. They will have imaging scans and a test of their heart function. They will complete questionnaires about their health. They will give blood, urine, saliva, and stool samples. Their sense of taste and smell will be tested. Tissue samples will be taken from the digestive tract, lungs, colon, skin, muscle, lymph nodes, nasal passages, and mouth. Participants may be numbed or sedated for some of the procedures. Swabs will be used to collect cells from inside the mouth and nose. Participants will undergo lumbar puncture. A thin needle will be inserted into their lower back to draw out a sample of the fluid around their spinal cord. Participants will have follow-up phone calls after each clinic visit.

Multiparametric [18F]F-AraG Imaging in Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC)

This study uses total-body \[¹⁸F\]F-AraG PET/CT imaging to investigate immune activation and vascular changes in individuals with post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), also known as Long COVID. Participants will undergo dynamic PET/CT imaging along with blood biomarker assessments and symptom evaluations. The study aims to characterize sites of immunological perturbation, correlate PET imaging findings with peripheral blood markers, and evaluate longitudinal changes in tissue-based immune activity in relation to symptom patterns over time. Data from this study will improve understanding of tissue-level immune dysregulation in PASC and support future clinical tools for assessing and managing this condition.