News release

From: South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI)

Researchers from SAHMRI and Flinders University are on the hunt for a Long COVID cure, launching a new study to uncover the biological mechanisms that cause the condition, paving the way for future treatments.

Funded under the Medical Research Future Fund’s (MRFF) Emerging Priorities and Consumer Driven Research Initiative, and led by SAHMRI’s Computational and Systems Biology Program Director, Professor David Lynn; the study will take an experimental medicine approach to narrow down which immune, molecular and neurological pathways are driving ongoing symptoms in people living with the condition.

Long COVID affects people in different ways, often involving persistent fatigue, cognitive difficulties, autonomic dysfunction and ongoing immune disruption months after the initial infection. Although many potential mechanisms have been identified, it’s still unclear which ones actually cause the condition to develop and persist.
Professor Lynn says this lack of clarity is holding back progress in treatment development.

“Long COVID remains one of the most complex health challenges of our time and people living with it deserve better answers,” Prof Lynn said.

“We want to understand the biological mechanisms driving these persistent symptoms so we can move closer to effective treatments.”

The team was among the first in the world to describe long-term immune dysregulation following SARS-CoV-2 infection, revealing that abnormalities can continue well beyond six months for some individuals.

Health-system partners the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network (SALHN) and Central Adelaide Local Health Network (CALHN) provide the clinical infrastructure, specialist workforce and governance that make this research possible. They host and support the state’s two public Long COVID (PASC) clinics at Flinders Medical Centre (FMC) and the Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH).

The project will use advanced systems immunology, genomics and neurological assessments to measure how key pathways respond to a safe, short-term clinical intervention.

By comparing people whose symptoms improve with those who do not, the team aims to identify which pathways are most likely to be central drivers of the condition.
“This will help us separate what is truly causal from what is simply associated with Long COVID,” Prof Lynn said.

“By identifying the pathways that matter most, we can accelerate the search for accurate biomarkers and practical treatment options.”

The project will be supported by a lived experience advisory panel, the Lung Foundation, and COTA-SA to ensure the research remains aligned with the needs and priorities of people affected by Long COVID.

“People with Long COVID consistently tell us they want progress. By working closely with clinicians, consumers and our partner organisations, we aim to generate knowledge that can translate quickly into better care,” Prof Lynn said.

The findings are expected to guide future clinical trials and play an important role in shaping Long COVID research going forward.