Plain-English translation of NCT07278388 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated · Translation generated · How we translate trials
This study doesn't follow the usual testing phases — it may be an observational study or a different type of research.
Researchers want to understand why people with long COVID experience such severe fatigue. This study will ask you to perform a gripping exercise (squeezing a device repeatedly) while they measure your brain activity using an MRI machine. By comparing your results to healthy volunteers, scientists hope to discover what's happening in the brains of people with long COVID that makes everyday activities feel so exhausting.
Many people with long COVID report overwhelming fatigue that doesn't improve with rest, and current treatments don't work well for everyone. Understanding the brain mechanisms behind this fatigue could lead to new treatments and rehabilitation strategies tailored to help long COVID patients.
You likely qualify if…
You likely don't qualify if…
You will visit the research center to undergo an MRI brain scan while performing a repeated gripping task designed to induce fatigue. The study compares people with long COVID to healthy matched controls who perform the same tasks. The exact duration and number of visits will be explained during screening, but the core involvement is completing the physical fatigue task while your brain activity is monitored.
AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 29, 2026 · Not medical advice
United States
Sponsor
Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Inc.
Collaborators
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Enrollment target
~200 participants
Started
July 2025
Primary completion
December 2029
Age range
18 Years – 75 Years
Last updated on clinicaltrials.gov in December 2025.
Reach out to the team running this trial. Response times vary — some teams are faster than others.
Central contact
Anthony Gonzalez
Johns Hopkins University; Kennedy Krieger Institute
Tell us you're interested and we'll help connect you with the research team. We'll walk you through what to expect first — no email needed to get started.