Long COVID
Long COVID, also known as post-COVID, refers to long-term health problems some people experience after a COVID-19 infection. Much is still unclear about the condition, and there is a need for effective treatments that can reduce or eliminate (the underlying causes of) post-COVID symptoms.
Post-COVID is diagnosed when health problems persist for more than 2 to 3 months after a COVID-19 infection. These health complaints consist of (a combination of) various ongoing symptoms, including post-exertional malaise (PEM), cognitive problems, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), and exhaustion. The severity of symptoms can range from mild to severe. Post-COVID may also have long-term effects, such as damage to the heart, lungs, and brain. Persistent symptoms often have a negative impact on social functioning, ability to work, and overall quality of life.
Post-COVID research
ZonMw facilitates comprehensive scientific research on COVID-19, long COVID, and their effects on Dutch society. We do this in collaboration with commissioning bodies, policymakers, researchers, patients, practitioners, data professionals in the Netherlands and international partners. View the long COVID projects here.
The COVID-19 programme was set up in 2020 commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports (VWS). Within the funding rounds of the COVID-19 programme, several projects were already included in 2020 that conduct research into disease progression after a COVID-19 infection. These projects also focus on the longer-term effects.
Find more information here about the projects and their results within the various (sub)programmes and funding rounds.
Following the COVID-19 programme, ZonMw received approval from the Ministry of VWS for the programme Post-COVID: research programme, knowledge infrastructure, and expertise network. This programme focuses on increasing and sharing knowledge and expertise on post-COVID to improve diagnosis, treatment, and the optimisation of care for patients. A total of € 40.67 million has been made available for the programme and its execution.
Post-COVID Network Netherlands
Within the Post-COVID programme, ‘Post-COVID Network Netherlands’ (PCNN) was launched in March 2024. This network is building a research infrastructure that enables post-COVID research to be set up and conducted efficiently and in a harmonised way. This includes, for example, a biobank and a website where patients can register to participate in research (postcovidonderzoek.nl). Agreements are also being made to enable data reuse and overarching analyses of research data.
In addition, the network plays an important role in developing expertise on post-COVID and is tasked with ensuring that available knowledge and research results reach healthcare professionals and patients as quickly as possible. Experts by experience have an important role within the network. They are involved in all work packages of PCNN. Read more about the network in the interview with the PCNN project leader or visit the PCNN website.
Research
The ‘research programme’ line within the Post-COVID programme focuses on developing the necessary knowledge about the mechanisms involved in post-COVID, as well as on further development of diagnostics, treatment, and the optimisation of care for post-COVID patients. The research questions outlined in the overarching long COVID knowledge agenda will further shape the research to be funded within the research programme.
To date, ZonMw has funded 29 post-COVID projects: 14 addressing biomedical research questions and 8 focusing on clinical research. 7 projects are largely based on the themes from the Post-COVID Knowledge Agenda (only in Dutch) developed by the Federatie Medisch Specialisten (FMS; Federation of Medical Specialists) and the Nederlands Huisartsen Genootschap (NHG; Dutch College of General Practitioners).
For all 29 projects, it is required that they connect with PCNN. It is also important that, if possible, they make use of and contribute to the research infrastructure being developed by PCNN. To encourage collaboration from the start, including collaboration between projects, ZonMw organised a meeting in January 2025 with the project leaders of the funded research projects and representatives of PCNN.
View the Dutch news article about the kick-off meeting.
European collaboration
Besides cooperation within the Netherlands, it is also important to work together and share knowledge internationally. The European Commission (EC) has therefore initiated a European collaboration on post-COVID in the form of a network of expertise (Network of Expertise on Long COVID under the Expert Group on Public Health). The Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports (VWS) has nominated the Nederlandse Federatie van Universitair Medische Centra (NFU; Dutch Federation of University Medical Centres), C-support and ZonMw to participate in this network.
