Evidence-based management of Long COVID

A 3-year project funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand to provide an evidence platform for the delivery of health services to manage Long COVID.

Long COVID is emerging as a significant public health problem. The condition poses a high burden to patients and the health system, but optimal diagnosis, support and care are unclear.

We propose a multidisciplinary study, co-led in a Tiriti-based partnership, that integrates the disciplines of immunology, kaupapa Māori evaluation, co-design methodology, epidemiology and health services research with the clinical interface.

Project outcomes

By the end of the project, we will have developed:

  1. a set of bio-markers of immune dysfunction to contribute to the accurate diagnosis of Long COVID;
  2. a template for evidence-based primary care service, co-designed with people with Long COVID and;
  3. recommendations for the improvement of existing and development of future Long COVID services to further meet the needs of patients.

The work will be supported by our extensive network of Long COVID stakeholders, including people with lived experience of Long COVID, Māori health experts, health professionals, health service researchers and design experts.

Research projects

We have designed a mixed-methods study with three distinct components:

Professionals medic workers wearing latex gloves looking at sample tubes in the lab.

Biomarkers of immune dysfunction in Long COVID

This project aims to identify the best set of biomarkers for immune dysfunction among people with Long COVID.
A female doctor resting their hand on a patient’s shoulder.

Management of Long COVID in primary care

This project aims to investigate what an optimal Long COVID service located in primary care encompasses, using a co-design methodology.
A mountain with blue skies surrounding and green grass at the bottom of the image.

Evaluation of a multidisciplinary Long COVID service

This project aims to assess the extent to which a multidisciplinary Long COVID service in Aotearoa New Zealand meets the needs of people with Long COVID.

About us

Two grey haired women smiling.

Our research is led in a Tiriti o Waitangi partnership by Associate Professor Lynne Russell and Associate Professor Mona Jeffreys. They are supported by Tāngata Whenua and Tāngata Tiriti researchers with varying expertise.

Long COVID Collective

Woman on a bike and a man walking into a building

A platform for collaboration between researchers, professionals and those with lived experiences of Long COVID to drive the future direction of health delivery.