AQW 28570/17-22

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 24/01/2022
Answered On Date: 04/02/2022
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health what research is ongoing or being taken into account concerning micro blood clots in people with long COVID.

Answer:

The Health and Social Care (HSC) Research & Development Division of the Public Health Agency (PHA) supports high quality research in all areas of health and social care, which is relevant to the Northern Ireland population. The PHA have advised that they do not currently have any research studies funded in this area however they are presently reviewing a proposed study of a potential ‘Long Covid’ syndrome, using a cohort of participants from their earlier Covid-19 rapid commissioned call in 2020.

The PHA have indicated that they are open to considering funding research in the area of ‘Long Covid’ through any of their usual funding schemes. Information on this is available on their website www.research.hscni.net

Outwith the specific PHA research remit, I understand that the National Institute of Health Research recently made a themed funding call in Covid 19 research for which Northern Ireland researchers were eligible to bid. Unfortunately I understand that a Northern Ireland study submitted for the call was not successful in attaining funding.