A new study in the UK will investigate the long-term effects of lung inflammation and scarring from COVID-19, Imperial College London announced on Wednesday.

After battling COVID-19, many patients experience long-term symptoms of lung damage, including breathlessness, coughing, fatigue and limited ability to exercise.

The inflammation in the lungs may improve over time, but in some people it persists and in severe cases the lungs may become scarred, Imperial explained.

Supported by GBP2m of funding from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the researchers at Imperial aim to develop treatment strategies to prevent the development of severe scarring and disability following COVID-19.

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