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West Virginia University School of Medicine
WVCTSI one of 15 hub sites to lead national study of long-term effects of COVID-19 in adults
To better understand the long-term effects of COVID-19 — symptoms that may continue or even begin after the initial virus infection — researchers at the West Virginia Clinical and Translational Science Institute ( WVCTSI ) at West Virginia University ( WVU ), are engaging underserved populations that are traditionally underrepresented in clinical studies .
Dr . Sally Hodder , director of the institute and associate vice president for clinical and translational science at WVU , said variety of demographics is integral to the success of the initiative because it will help paint a more inclusive picture when it comes to those experiencing post-acute sequelae ( PASC ) of COVID-19 .
In collaboration with Dr . Clifford Rosen from the Maine Medical Center Research Institute , Hodder created the IDeA States Consortium for Clinical Research , or ISCORE . She and Rosen are co-principal investigators of this project with WVU serving as the lead institution .
“ The ISCORE network is critically important to understanding PASC as underserved populations , traditionally underrepresented in clinical studies , are a major focus of ISCORE community engagement ,” Hodder said . “ Many of the ISCORE sites are located in areas of the country that have seen some of the highest COVID infection rates ; offering rural and other underrepresented groups the opportunity to participate in this study will ensure that the study ’ s conclusions are generalizable throughout the United States .”
The ISCORE network is composed of 11 National Institutes of Health ( NIH ) -funded Clinical and Translational Research Centers ( CTRs )— nine CTRs and two clinical and translation science awards programs — spanning the US from Puerto Rico to Hawaii and serving multiple , diverse populations , including rural , African American / Black , American Indian , Latinx , and Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander . WVCTSI is one of 15 centers chosen to lead the study of PASC among adults and serves as the lead for 11 sites in the following states and territories : Hawaii , Kansas , Kentucky , Louisiana , Maine , Mississippi , Nebraska , North Dakota , Oklahoma , Puerto Rico , and West Virginia ( WV ).
WV ’ s involvement is now more important than ever given recent high infection rates .
Hodder said she hopes WV being at the forefront of a national effort to better understand PASC will lead to improved outcomes for COVID-19 patients , returning them to their pre-COVID-19 levels of function .
“ As effective treatments have been developed for acute COVID-19 , we are just beginning to appreciate the breadth of post-COVID symptoms and advance the science so that effective treatments for this disabling complication of COVID may be developed ,” said Dr . Clay Marsh , WVU vice president and executive dean for health sciences . Marsh also serves as the state ’ s coronavirus czar .
PASC symptoms may include headaches , fatigue , brain fog , shortness of breath , anxiety , depression , fever , chronic cough , and problems with sleep .
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