Maintenance and Incidence of ME/CFS following Mono

Abstract Behavioral and pathophysiological underpinnings of the development of COVID-19 are poorly understood. From 2014 through 2018, our research group collected psychological and biological data of 4,501 young adults. We are currently funded to re-contact and interview these subjects regarding symptoms of ME/CFS. This supplemental funding request would allow us to also collect data involving COVIDF-19 infection and recovery vs nonrecovery from that infection as well. Using our baseline data, we will be able to compare the biological and behavioral data of young adults prior to the epidemic and during the epidemic, we will be able to compare those who became ill with COVID-19 and those who did not, to identify possible predisposing characteristics and to determine those who fully recovered vs those who did not. We emphasize the urgent nature of the request, as we will need to see these patients starting in June, July, and August. This cohort is significant in our effort to identify risk factors predisposing patients to developing COVID-19, which may help uncover underlying mechanisms of COVID-19. We believe our proposal addresses an urgent need for research on "biological effects of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and effects of COVID-19 on the nervous system".