Professor Gras was successful in securing funding from the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) for ‘CRISP: Consumer-led Research Initiative on food and drink Sensitivity in PASC’.
Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC), otherwise known as Long COVID, affects people whose symptoms persist for more than 12 weeks following SARS-CoV-2 infection and is estimated to impact more than 10% of Australians.
As there is no clinical diagnostic for Long COVID, patients are often left misdiagnosed, creating anxiety in the community as well as delaying healthcare for those impacted.
The CRISP project aims to identify novel biological markers of disease, which will support the development of diagnostic biosensors and contribute to improved clinical understanding and management of Long COVID.
The CRISP team adopts a consumer-led research approach, working directly with people living with Long COVID, and their carers, to investigate food and drink sensitivities associated with the condition.
Professor Gras said the project addresses a critical gap in current Long COVID research and care.
“Long COVID is a complex condition that can significantly affect quality of life, yet many people still struggle to receive clear diagnoses or effective treatment.”
“By placing consumers at the centre of this research, we are recognising lived experience as an essential part of the evidence base. Identifying biological markers linked to food and drink sensitivity may help validate symptoms and support more accurate treatment.”
Professor Gras said the MRFF funding would enable the translation of consumer insights into practical detection tools.
“Our goal is to improve care for people living with Long COVID and to support future treatment approaches grounded in biological evidence,” she said.
La Trobe University Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation, Professor Coral Warr, congratulated Professor Gras on the funding success.
“This significant investment recognises the quality and relevance of Professor Gras’ research” Professor Warr said.
“The project reflects La Trobe University’s strength in consumer-led, translational health research and our focus on delivering outcomes that respond to emerging public health challenges.”
Professor Gras was previously awarded $3 million from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) to establish the Post-Acute Viral Infection Diseases Group (PAVING) Centre of Research Excellence at La Trobe University.
