Coordinated Action on Long COVID

Activities

The Long COVID Coordinated Action (AC54) develops its work and reflections across several complementary areas:

1. basic research, with a primary focus on the study of pathophysiological mechanisms;
2. therapeutic research;
3. social sciences and humanities;
4. epidemiology, particularly through the assessment of the health and societal impact of Long COVID.

The Coordinated Action brings together a broad range of complementary expertise, including clinicians working in hospital and outpatient settings, epidemiologists and public health specialists, researchers in basic research and social sciences and humanities, health economists, as well as patient representatives. This diversity of expertise enables different perspectives to be brought together and fosters an integrated approach to the various research challenges related to Long COVID.

Led by a small executive committee, AC54 brings together around forty members who collectively contribute to its discussions, the definition of its scientific priorities, and the development of its activities.

Since 2025, following the Long COVID Scientific Day organised in partnership with Santé publique France and the French National Authority for Health (Haute Autorité de santé, HAS), AC54 has decided to place particular emphasis on two areas:

1. paediatric Long COVID;
2. the development of therapeutic trials.

Within this framework, AC54 supports scientific coordination, contributes to the emergence and development of research projects, and participates in the dissemination of scientific knowledge, notably through the organisation of events dedicated to Long COVID.

At the same time, AC54 is considering the possibility of expanding its scope to include other post-infectious syndromes. This potential development is being considered with several key points in mind: preserving the visibility of Long COVID, both in the research field and in healthcare policies and provision; maintaining close links between research and the clinical care of patients; and ensuring the continued involvement of patient representatives in the discussions and activities undertaken.

Board members

Contact ANRS MIE

Events and news

ANRS MIE Long COVID Symposium – November 2026

In 2026, ANRS MIE is part of the organising committee of the 4th Long COVID International Conference, which will be held in Nice on 12 and 13 November 2026.

On this occasion, ANRS MIE, together with the Long COVID Coordinated Action (CA54), is organising an institutional symposium dedicated to potential biomarkers of Long COVID and their implications for therapeutic management: “Hallmarks and potential biomarkers of Long COVID: implications for patient treatment”.

This symposium will bring together international experts to discuss the latest advances in Long COVID biomarkers and their potential to improve patient care. The programme will include presentations of four French studies focusing on potential Long COVID biomarkers, three of which have received support from ANRS MIE. These presentations will be followed by a round-table discussion to put the findings into perspective and discuss future directions and their implications for patient care.

Long COVID Scientific Day – October 2024

Faced with the health challenges for affected individuals, public health and healthcare professionals, the French National Agency for Research on AIDS and Viral Hepatitis – Emerging Infectious Diseases (ANRS MIE), Santé publique France and the French National Authority for Health organised a scientific day on 14 October 2024 at PariSanté Campus.

During this day, several areas of research were covered: epidemiology, pathophysiology and clinical trials. Researchers and clinicians presented the progress made in their studies on the underlying mechanisms of the disease, which will help to better characterise post-COVID syndrome(s), understand its clinical manifestations, improve diagnosis and provide more appropriate care. Following these discussions, three priority research areas were identified by ANRS MIE:

• continuing pathophysiological research, particularly to better understand the mechanisms underlying the persistence of symptoms;
• the development of clinical trials to evaluate new therapeutic strategies;
• strengthening research on Long COVID in children.

Long COVID research projects

Since 2020, research teams partnering with ANRS MIE have obtained funding through the Agency for 28 research projects dedicated to Long COVID. These projects were supported through two dedicated calls for research proposals (AAP) in 2021 and 2022, followed by the ReCH MIE programme established in 2022.

Two flash calls for research proposals (AAP) were specifically dedicated to Long COVID in 2021 and 2022. These calls were launched by ANRS MIE in collaboration with the French Foundation for Medical Research (FRM), with the support of the French Ministries of Higher Education, Research and Innovation and of Solidarity and Health, via CAPNET. In 2022, ReCH-MIE, a hospital-based clinical research programme dedicated to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, was established by ANRS MIE on behalf of the French Directorate General for Healthcare Provision (DGOS).

These calls for research proposals have enabled the funding of 28 research projects dedicated to Long COVID. The 28 funded projects comprise 10 clinical research projects, 10 fundamental research projects and 8 research projects in the fields of Humanities and Social Sciences/Public Health. These studies cover a wide range of topics: cardiovascular and cognitive function, fatigue, consequences in children of infection during pregnancy, inflammation and immune response, pathophysiological mechanisms and biomarkers, as well as epidemiological and sociological dimensions, particularly care pathways. These research projects have resulted in 17 publications in international journals.

The research projects and associated publications are presented below. [FR]