b'Naval Medical ResearchCenter Continues COVID-19 StudyBy Marine Corps SGT. Jesus Sepulveda TorresEPULVEDA 2ND MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE, MARCH 11, 2021www.defense.gov/Explore/News/Article/Article/2530379/naval-medical-research-center-continues-covid-19-study/Naval Medical Research Center is continuing its ongoing study to determine the long-term effects of COVID-19 to support the Marines participatingin the COVID-19 Health Action Response for Marines (CHARM 2.0) study at Camp Johnson, North Carolina. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Ernesto Santa Ana, with the Naval Medical Research Center, collects blood samples from a Marine participating in the COVID-19 Health Action Response CHARM 2.0 is a continuation of an initial studyfor Marines (CHARM) study on Camp Johnson, N.C., March 3, 2021. CHARM 2.0 is a volunteer progression-based assessment to monitor possible health related issues as a result of that NMRC began at Marine Corps Recruit DepotCOVID-19 recovery. Photo By: Marine Corps Sgt. Jesus Sepulveda TorresParris Island in May 2020. The study is a volunteerupdate to the testing, the team is tasked with progression-based assessment to monitor possiblescouring across the country to continue research health-related issues as a result of COVID-19on Marines from the original study.recovery, and the team has resumed evaluatingThe study was conducted from May to the initial volunteers from across multiple CampNovember 2020, and it followed Marine recruits Lejeune tenant commands. entering boot camp, he said. We wanted to better Navy Cmdr. Andrew Letizia, the principal investigatorunderstand all the Marines that had COVID-19 for the CHARM study, said the research provides a critical approach to understanding the long termafter infection, regardless of symptoms. Then we effects of the disease. evaluated them for six weeks to see how their This study helps understand the long termimmune system has made progression.effects of COVID-19 amongst Marines, he said.The research team is currently reassessing the It will also assist in understanding how a MarinesMarine volunteers, across military installations, as immune system would be able to fight off newpart of the CHARM 2.0 study. This week, the team and emerging variants of the various SARS-CoV-2reached out to leaders on Camp Lejeune to allow strains, the virus that causes COVID-19, that aretime for any original study participants to continue coming from around the world. with their follow-ups.Letizia said the CHARM studies began in 2020,All participants from the first study were eligible with revisits this year to assess the original groupto continue the research, Letizia said. Were of recruits, now Marines. With the most recenthoping following up with these Marines will allow us to better understand the long term effects of COVID-19 on an individuals health, in particular their heart, lungs, their mental health as well as their immune system.One of the original participants, Marine Corps Pfc. Jada May, a supply chain and material management specialist student at Ground Supply School, volunteered for the follow-up study.I volunteered because, as a twin, I wanted to see if COVID-19 would affect me differently as well as others, she said. I started in the program Photo By: Marine Corps Sgt. Jesus Sepulveda Torres last August as a recruit and during the assessment 22 Military Appreciation Resource Magazine HApril 2021H Thank You For Your Service'