Flinders University Secures Over $3 Million for Long COVID Research

Flinders University has secured over $3 million in funding from the federal government's Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) to support two projects addressing the ongoing impacts of Long COVID, medically known as Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC).

The World Health Organization estimates that 6% of individuals who contract COVID-19 will go on to develop Long COVID.

Project 1: Care Model for Older Australians

Professor Kate Laver from the College of Nursing and Health Sciences is leading a project that received over $2.1 million. This initiative aims to trial a flexible and effective model of care for frail older Australians who are at higher risk of experiencing Long COVID.

Professor Laver stated that frail older people take longer to recover from COVID-19 and are more susceptible to Long COVID, which impacts their independence and quality of life.

The study will collaborate with aged care organizations to assess a scalable PASC care model, focusing on upskilling the workforce and evaluating the program's effectiveness, adaptation, and sustainability to improve health outcomes for older Australians.

Project 2: Understanding Long COVID Causes

Matthew Flinders Professor of Systems Immunology David Lynn from the College of Medicine and Public Health is leading the second project, which was awarded over $995,000. This research seeks to better understand the underlying causes of Long COVID, which globally affects up to 65 million people and results in symptoms such as fatigue, illness, and cognitive impairment.

Professor Lynn emphasized the urgent need to understand these causes to develop improved treatments.

The project will investigate the changes induced by metformin, a drug commonly used for type 2 diabetes that has shown potential in reducing the risk of developing Long COVID, to further elucidate its underlying mechanisms.

Both projects received funding under the MRFF's Emerging Priorities and Consumer Driven Research Initiative – 2024 Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 Grant Opportunity.