How many stem-cell trials for Long COVID are recruiting right now?
As of 2026-08-29: 2 open studies against 10 registrations overall, or 20% of the historical total.
Who these studies will actually take
Studies define symptom duration, exclude alternative diagnoses and often require objective findings such as abnormal cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Many people who identify as having long COVID do not meet those objective criteria and screen out.
The studies currently enrolling
| Study | Phase | Status | Planned n | Lead sponsor | Start |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCT06492798 — Effectiveness and Safety of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy in Long COVID Patients | Phase 1, Phase 2 | Recruiting | 76 | Changhai Hospital | 2023-09-01 |
| NCT06441955 — Covid-19 Long Haul Preventative and Health Promotion Care Clinical Trial Acceleration Program. | Phase 4 | Recruiting | 100 | Well- Konnect Healthcare Services and Research Firm | 2024-03-01 |
What recruiting does and does not mean
The status field tracks paperwork, not promise. What matters underneath it is the eligibility list, the outcome measures the sponsor committed to, and whether a site near you is actually enrolling, all of which sit on the registry record itself.
Sites sit in 2 countries, led by United States. Travelling for a trial rarely works unless the site has confirmed in writing that it can enrol non-residents and fund the follow-up schedule.
Who is running the studies here
Lead sponsors appearing most often for this condition. Useful for one specific check: whether the entity quoting research at you appears anywhere in it.
- Hope Biosciences Research Foundation — 2 registered records
- Shanghai East Hospital — 1 registered record
- Huazhong University of Science and Technology — 1 registered record
- Charles Cox — 1 registered record
- Direct Biologics, LLC — 1 registered record
- Changhai Hospital — 1 registered record
Frequently asked
How many stem-cell trials for Long COVID are recruiting right now?
2 of 10 registered records (2026-08-29).
Can I join one of these trials?
Only if you meet the published eligibility criteria and the site confirms capacity. Start from the registry record's contact block, not from a clinic advertisement.
Do trials charge participants?
Participants are not usually billed for the study product. A five-figure invoice attached to a supposed trial place means you are buying a treatment, not joining research.
Registry and literature counts retrieved 2026-08-29 (ClinicalTrials.gov API v2; PubMed E-utilities). Registration or publication volume measures research activity, not effectiveness or approval. Educational information — not medical advice; verify product, indication, legal pathway and evidence with an independent qualified physician. Page generated 2026-08-29. See our editorial standards.