Researchers at UC San Diego School of Medicine and Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego have joined a nationwide study intended to better understand the long-term impact of COVID-19, officials announced. The $1.15 billion, four-year study, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, is called the Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery Initiative. Its intent is to better understand "post-acute sequelae of the SARS-CoV-2" infections or PASC, more commonly known as "long-COVID," according to a statement from the NIH. "We are excited to be a part of this national effort to learn more about long-COVID and the factors that put someone at risk for developing this condition," said Dr. Kelan Tantisira, professor and chief of the Division of Respiratory Medicine at Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego." Long-COVID refers to symptoms that persist for weeks or months after a COVID-19 infection. The symptoms are wide-ranging and can include pain, headaches, fatigue, "brain fog," shortness of breath, anxiety, depression, fever, chronic cough and sleep problems, among others. MORE: https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/san-diego-joins-national-effort-to-better-understand-long-term-impacts-of-covid-19/509-b6dce1b2-0a61-414d-a6f0-a264add56df9