OUTcomes POST COVID - Australian Platform Trial (OUTPOST-APT)
Project Details
This research will establish the first Australian prospective cohort study of patients with confirmed acute COVID-19 infection recruited from the population and linked to primary care versus both infective (Influenza [Flu], Respiratory Syncytial virus [RSV]) and non-infective control subjects.
The overall objective is to robustly determine the prevalence and disease burden of Long COVID at a time when a high proportion of the population is vaccinated, has had prior infection, has access to antiviral medication, and with current milder variants in circulation. This study is important as it is linked to primary care and closely located pharmacies, the first care pathways for Influenza-Like-Illnesses (ILI). Furthermore, it will include appropriate comparison groups (Influenza A/B, and Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) A/B) to better understand the specific links of ongoing symptoms with SARS CoV-2 infection.
This study will also seek to better characterise cases of Long COVID using validated self-report measures, structured clinical assessments, and protocolised investigations; and will include cost of illness and burden of disease assessment and qualitative investigation of the experience of Long COVID especially in priority populations.
Research Leaders:
National Coordinating Principal Investigator
Professor Lena Sanci MBBS., PhD., FRACGP
The University of Melbourne
National Principal Investigator
Emeritus Professor Andrew Lloyd MBBS., PhD., FRACP, FAHMS
The University of New South Wales
UNSW/Kirby Principal Investigator and NSW Investigator
Associate Professor Lucette A. Cysique MA Clin Neuropsych/Neuroscience, PhD
The University of New South Wales
VIC Investigator
Doctor Ruby Biezen BSc, MAppSc, PhD.
The University of Melbourne
APPRISE Investigator
Doctor Miranda Smith BSc, PhD.
The University of Melbourne
Researchers
A/Prof Patty Chondros, The University of Melbourne
Kelly Harper, University of Adelaide
Oonagh Macken, The University of New South Wales
Hayley Ivanusic, The University of Melbourne
Jia Shing See, The University of Melbourne
Natali Coric, The University of Melbourne
Eleni Papastergiadis, The University of Melbourne
Chloe Smith, The University of Melbourne
Collaborators
APPRISE (Australian Partnership for Preparedness Research on Infectious Disease Emergencies)
Kirby Institute UNSW
Adelaide university
Funding
MRFF - EPCDRI - 2023 Post-Acute Sequalae of COVID-19 Grant Opportunity (Streams 1-3 and Stream 4 Stage 1)
Research Publications
Joint news article published on UNSW website, 20/06/2025