Family Medicine

Department of Family Medicine launches the RECOVER-AUTONOMIC Long COVID study

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For More Infomation

The Department of Family Medicine is proud to announce its participation in RECOVER-AUTONOMIC, a double blinded clinical trial of possible treatments for Long COVID. 

Dr. Caroline Richardson is the Principal Investigator. 

Researchers are studying possible treatments for adults who have Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) symptoms related to Long COVID. POTS causes a number of autonomic dysfunction symptoms like fast heart rate, dizziness, and fatigue when standing up from sitting or lying down to standing.

The study will look at two forms of treatment to improve daily functioning for people with ongoing symptoms after a COVID infection. With your help, we can better understand Long COVID

Treatments:

  • A study drug administered as an intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) infusion, Gamunex-C, with or without lifestyle changes

  • A study drug taken by mouth, Ivabradine, with or without lifestyle changes

Duration & Compensation:

  • The study is expected to last 1½ years, with treatment duration of 6-12 months.
  • Participants will be paid for their time.
  • No health insurance is required. 

Location:

  • Family Care Center, a Kent Hospital facility, located at 111 Brewster Street, Pawtucket, RI.

Contact:

Contact the Clinical Study team by phone for more information: 401-921-7980

Study Team Members:

  • Patricia (Trish) Criner, RN
  • Jessica Rotondo
  • Susan McCormack

Principal Investigator

  • Caroline Richardson, MD headshot

    Caroline Richardson, MD

    Chair of Family Medicine, George A. and Marilyn M. Bray Professor of Family Medicine

    Dr. Richardson currently serves as Chair of Family Medicine at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. In addition, she serves as editor-in-chief of the Annals of Family Medicine. Previously, Dr. Richardson served associate chair for research programs in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Michigan and as the director of the Veterans Administration Diabetes Quality Improvement Initiative (QUERI). She conducted a multi-site implementation study of the Diabetes Prevention Program for veterans.

    Dr. Richardson is a physical activity and diabetes prevention researcher who emphasizes the importance of using low-cost and scalable approaches to promoting physical activity. Her most recent research focuses on lifestyle change in type 2 diabetes using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and low-carb diet coaching. She develops and tests internet-mediated behavioral interventions to increase physical activity, decrease weight and prevent diabetes. Focusing on components of web-based interventions that are interactive and individually tailored, Dr. Richardson builds interventions that are more than just static informational websites. They incorporate objective monitoring, individually tailored feedback and motivational messaging while providing online social support to motivate and engage users.  

    Research Interests: Preventing and reversing Type 2 diabetes, clinical informatics and technology, preventative medicine, physical activity, chronic illness, diabetes prevention, internet-mediated interventions

    Clinical Interests: Physical activity and chronic disease, diabetes, obesity, heart disease risk factor modification, health behavior change.