Long Covid: Medical Treatments

(asked on 28th March 2022) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is taking steps to prioritise targeted, lab-based studies to find possible treatments for those suffering from long covid.


Answered by
Maria Caulfield Portrait
Maria Caulfield
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
This question was answered on 20th April 2022

Over £50 million has been invested in research projects into the long term effects of COVID-19, with £38.6 million awarded to 19 projects commissioned through two research calls.

The National Institute for Health Research’s (NIHR) second research call specified the need for studies to review possible treatments and interventions and develop a greater understanding of the underlying mechanisms of the disease. Six of the studies funded through this call are directly examining treatments and therapies.

Further research on the long term effects of COVID-19 and providing support for those affected has been funded through the NIHR’s programme funding streams. These include a £3.5 million award to the HEAL-COVID study to develop treatments for COVID-19 which reduce the long term risks of death and disability.

The NIHR continues to welcome funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including potential treatments for post-COVID-19 syndrome. It is not usual practice to ring-fence funds for particular topics or conditions. Applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality.

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