AAI Congressional Briefing
“Understanding and Combatting Long COVID:
The Essential Role of the Immune System”
Wednesday, February 26, 2025
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Hart Senate Office Building, Room 902
Co-chairs:
- Stephen Jameson, Ph.D., Professor and Harry Kay Chair in Biomedical Research, University of Minnesota Medical School, Twin Cities; AAI President
- Cheri茅 Butts, Ph.D., Medical Director, Biogen; Chair, AAI Committee on Public Affairs
Speakers:
- Akiko Iwasaki, Ph.D., Sterling Professor of Immunobiology; Professor of Dermatology and of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology and of Epidemiology; Director, Center for Infection and Immunity, Yale School of Medicine; AAI Past President
- E. John Wherry, Ph.D., Chair, Department of Systems Pharmacology & Translational Therapeutics; Richard and Barbara Schiffrin President's Distinguished Professor; Director, Institute for Immunology and Immune Health, University of Pennsylvania
- Lisa McCorkell, M.P.P., Co-founder of the Patient-Led Research Collaborative; Long COVID patient advocate
Description:
As we approach the 5-year mark since COVID-19 was first declared a pandemic, major achievements by the Trump and Biden Administrations have helped to significantly limit the severity of the disease and its burden on society. Yet, for an estimated 7-10 percent of U.S. adults – nearly 17 million people – the effects of the SARS-CoV-2 virus persist in the form of Long COVID. This complex condition, caused by prior infection with the virus, manifests through a wide range of symptoms, some of which result in mild impairment while others cause debilitating, life-altering challenges.
Please join 91传媒 for an enlightening presentation on the latest advancements in understanding and addressing Long COVID, with a special focus on the vital role of the immune system. Esteemed scientists and COVID-19 researchers Drs. Akiko Iwasaki and John Wherry will delve into the science behind COVID-19, ongoing efforts to develop diagnostics and treatments, and pressing questions that have yet to be answered. Attendees will also hear from Ms. Lisa McCorkell, who will share her lived experience as someone with Long COVID, shedding light on how the community has united to drive progress and advocate for impactful change. Don’t miss this opportunity to deepen your understanding and join the conversation on this critical issue!
Formal remarks will be followed by a brief Q&A session.
RSVP to AAI Director of Government Affairs Jake Schumacher (jschumacher@aai.org).
Lunch will be served
This briefing meets Congressional ethics requirements for a widely attended event