Blood test detects lingering lung damage after COVID 19

A study into the long-term health impacts of coronavirus, led by experts from the University of Leicester, Imperial College London and University College London, has found changes in the blood after COVID-19 that might pinpoint patients at risk of ongoing lung disease.

 

Led by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Leicester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) the PHOSP-COVID study has drawn on expertise from a group of leading researchers and clinicians from across the UK to assess the impact of COVID-19 on patients’ physical and mental health, and their recovery.

 

In this latest study, published in EBioMedicine on 27 January 2026 blood samples from almost 1,000 people who were hospitalised for COVID-19 were tested for molecules believed to be present when there is lung damage.

 

Patients who had evidence of lung changes on scans of their lungs were found to have higher levels of molecules known as ‘matrix metalloproteinase-7’ (MMP-7) and ‘Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) in their blood.

 

Both of these molecules have previously been shown to be elevated in individuals with diagnosed lung disease, and indicate damage to the epithelial cells that line the lungs.

 

Dr Rachael Evans, Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Leicester, said: “Epithelial cells form the crucial barrier lining the lungs, acting as the first defence against the particles we breathe in, producing mucus and initiating immune responses.

 

“The biomarkers we’ve observed in the blood samples in this study tell us that there is damage to this lining, and this is contributing to ongoing symptoms and restrictive lung function in some people with long-COVID.

 

“These findings could pave the way for simple blood tests to determine which individuals might have ongoing lung problems, and help us decide on the best course of treatment for them.”

 

Dr Iain Stewart from the National Heart & Lung Institute at Imperial College London, who led the analyses, said: “Because PHOSP‑COVID gathered such detailed, high‑quality information from so many people, we were able to uncover signs of ongoing lung damage even in a relatively small group. The fact that this damage may have life‑long consequences means that finding reliable markers to identify people at risk is crucial.”

 

Professor Louise Wain, who co-leads the PHOSP-COVID study at the University of Leicester, said: “We are immensely grateful to the PHOSP-COVID study participants for giving up their time to provide information about their recovery and samples. Thanks to them, this research represents another step forward in identifying the specific underlying causes of ongoing symptoms after COVID-19 and helping doctors and patients to access appropriate and effective treatments.”

 

Professor Gisli Jenkins, from the National Heart & Lung Institute at Imperial College London, said: “These results highlight the possibility of using a blood test to identify people at increased risk of chronic lung disease following acute SARS-CoV-2 infection.”

 

Professor Rachel Chambers Professor of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology at University College London, said: “It has been a privilege to work with leading investigators across the UK and contribute to this PHOSP-COVID consortium study.

“These findings represent an exciting step forward in identifying reliable markers to monitor patients with ongoing lung damage.”

 

The NIHR Leicester BRC is part of the NIHR and hosted by the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust in partnership with the University of Leicester, Loughborough University and University Hospitals of Northamptonshire NHS Group.

 

For more information about the NIHR Leicester BRC visit www.leicesterbrc.nihr.ac.uk 

 

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Notes to editors

 

Photo link: Professor Louise Wain: https://we.tl/t-fFMAeq7moI

Dr Rachel Evans: https://we.tl/t-aQWIfUmQzF

 

 

About the University of Leicester  

The University of Leicester is a leading global university, home to more than 21,000 students and 4,000 staff, with an outstanding reputation for world‑class research, innovative teaching and widening access to higher education.  It holds an overall Gold rating in TEF 2023 and is ranked among the UK’s Top 30 for research quality, with 89% of research rated world‑leading or internationally excellent (REF 2021).

Leicester ranks 25th in the UK in the 2026 Times Higher Education World University Rankings and 33rdin the Complete University Guide 2026, and is top 10 in the UK for student experience and top 15 for student satisfaction in the 2025 National Student Survey.

Named the Daily Mail University of the Year 2025 and shortlisted for the Times Higher Education University of the Year 2024 and The Times and The Sunday Times University of the Year 2025, Leicester is driven by a commitment to excellence, inclusion and meaningful global impact.

 

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For further information please contact the University of Leicester press office on 0116 252 2160 or press@le.ac.uk       

 

 

The NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre 

 

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Leicester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) is part of the NIHR and hosted by the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust in partnership with the University of Leicester, Loughborough University and the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire NHS Group. 

 

The NIHR Leicester BRC undertakes translational clinical research in priority areas of high disease burden and clinical need. These are: 

• Respiratory and infectious diseases 
• Personalised cancer prevention and treatment 
• Lifestyle (including diabetes) 
• Environment and health 
• Data innovation for multiple long term health conditions and ethnic health 
• Cardiovascular disease 

 

The BRC harnesses the power of experimental science to explore and develop ways to help prevent and treat chronic disease. It brings together 120 highly skilled researchers, 45 academic ‘rising stars’, more than 90 support staff and students and over 450 public contributors. By having scientists working closely with clinicians and the public, the BRC can deliver research that is relevant to both patients and the professionals who treat them. www.leicesterbrc.nihr.ac.uk  

 

The mission of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research. We do this by:

• Funding high quality, timely research that benefits the NHS, public health and social care;
• Investing in world-class expertise, facilities and a skilled delivery workforce to translate discoveries into improved treatments and services;
• Partnering with patients, service users, carers and communities, improving the relevance, quality and impact of our research;
• Attracting, training and supporting the best researchers to tackle complex health and social care challenges;
• Collaborating with other public funders, charities and industry to help shape a cohesive and globally competitive research system;
• Funding applied global health research and training to meet the needs of the poorest people in low and middle income countries.

NIHR is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care. Its work in low and middle income countries is principally funded through UK international development funding from the UK government.

 

Leicester’s Research Registry was launch in May 2021 and will share opportunities to get involved in health research taking place in Leicester’s Hospitals, or being run with their research partners, such as the University of Leicester and Loughborough University, in their National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre, Clinical Research Facility and Patient Recruitment Centre: Leicester.

 

To sign up to the registry, potential volunteers need to be over 18 years of age, live in the UK, and have a valid email address. You also have the option to select if there are particular areas of health research you are interested in. You will then receive regular updates on all the exciting opportunities to participate in the hospitals’ research.

To sign up, visit www.leicestershospitals.nhs.uk/researchregistry. You can also visit the dedicated Facebook page.

 

 

 

 

 

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