In this bonus episode of A Friend for the Long Haul, I get to talk with Dr. Julia Moore Vogel from Scripps Research. I slid into her DMs to see if she'd like to join me to discuss the recruitment and structure of a new clinical trial examining the effects of tirzepatide, a dual GLP-1 and GIP agonist, on long COVID symptoms.

Dr. Vogel is the Senior Program Director, The Participant Center, All of Us Research Program. She's a fellow long hauler and "manages The Participant Center (TPC) for the All of Us Research Program which is charged with recruiting and retaining 350,000 individuals that represent the diversity of the United States. TPC aims to make it possible for interested individuals anywhere in the US to become active participants, for example by collaborating with numerous outreach partners to raise awareness, collecting biosamples nationwide, returning participants’ results and developing self-guided workflows that enable participants to join whenever is convenient for them." (Thanks for letting me borrow the blurb, Scripps. <3)

Our conversation covers the trial's remote format, patient support systems, potential impacts on symptoms like fatigue, GI issues, and mental health, as well as Dr. Vogel's personal experiences. This episode provides an overview for those interested in participating or learning more about cutting-edge long COVID research. Dr. Vogel also drops a few new nuggets of trial information that she hasn't shared elsewhere!

Here's the structure of the episode:

Meet Dr. Julia Moore Vogel
Discussing the TIRZEPATIDE Trial
Remote Trials and Scripps Research
Challenges and Support in Clinical Trials
Placebo Concerns and Trial Integrity
Gastrointestinal Concerns and Safety Monitoring
Beth's quest to be sponsored by the Squatty Potty (Call me!)
Support and the recommendations for therapy around Body Dysmorphia, Eating Disorders, Nutritional Guidance, and trauma from things like MCAS
Metrics and Questionnaires for Measuring Improvements
MCAS, EDS, and the Trifecta
Drug formulations and brand confusion
Hopes for the Trial
Final thoughts and the big 3 questions

If you're interested in the the Long COVID Treatment Trial-Tirzepatide (LoCITT-T):

Check out their website: https://longcovid.scripps.edu/locitt-t/

or email the team at longcovid-t@scripps.edu.

If you're interested in my anecdotal experience using tirzepatide as a first wave long hauler since January, you can follow me on Instagram, TikTok, or Substack. I have several posts there that you won't find anywhere else, and none are behind a paywall.

If you'd like to support me in my one disabled woman podcasting endeavors, I sell long covid tshirts and other products and proceeds from that get funneled back into the podcast or used for community care. You can also just Venmo me at @afriend4thelonghaul. That also gets funneled back into the pod. I'm actually trying to raise about $170 by Christmas eve to cover platform and recording costs.

Over the last 1.5 years, I've built a playlist of long covid theme songs from my guests, available on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3n0GXLFRWqDJyifglNNM4K?si=dIlKoxWMRgO53CriOVAjPw

Please like, subscribe, and share A Friend for the Long Haul! Reviews go a long way to help, too. Thank you!