2025 International Forum on COVID Rehabilitation Research

Forum Sessions, Recordings, and Slides:

Keynote Session - Wearables and Rehabilitation in Long COVID: Research and Personal Reflections from a Patient- Researcher

Watch the recording and view the slides for this presentation!

Presented by: Julia Moore-Vogel, Contributor at the Patient Led Research Collaborative and Senior Program Director, Scripps Research

Panel Discussion 1 - Mobilizing Research Evidence into Rehabilitation Professional Curricula to Inform Safe Rehabilitation in Long COVID

Watch the recording here.

Aim of Session: To discuss the need, strategies and process for integrating evidence on safe and effective rehabilitation assessment and treatment approaches in Long COVID into rehabilitation professional curricula.

Panelists: Euson Yeung (Department of Physical Therapy, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto); Jessica DeMars (Breathewell Physio); Josée Séguin (Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists); Mark Rutledge (Advisory Committee Member, Rehabilitation Science Research Network for COVID); Hannah Wei (Patient-Led-Research Collaborative); Susie Goulding (COVID Long Haulers Support Group Canada); Jaimie Coleman (Department of Physical Therapy, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto)

Moderator: Lisa Caldana (Rehabilitation Science Research Network for COVID, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto)

Panel Discussion 2 - Navigating the Maze of the Continuum of Care for Long COVID Rehabilitation

Watch the recording here.

Aim of Session: To explore the experiences of navigating rehabilitation services in the context of Long COVID. Using an exemplar of a rehabilitation Long COVID clinic, panelists will specifically highlight important considerations for need and models of rehabilitation programs, services and models of care delivery. The panel will include researchers, clinicians, educators, members of community, and persons with lived experiences.

Panelists: Sue Birch (PossAbility); Elizabeth Racz (Realize); Michelle DiLauro (Toronto Rehabilitation Institute); Fran Wolfe (Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care); Cara Kaup (Long COVID Physio)

Moderator: Alexandra Rendely (Physiatrist, University Health Network, University of Toronto)

Research Evidence Session 1 - Health and Disability across Acute and Long COVID Illness Trajectories

Aim of Session: To foster knowledge transfer and exchange on evidence related to 1) understanding experiences of episodic disability; and 2) assessing episodic disability.

Abnormal Post-exertional Recovery in People Living with Long COVID: Insights from Two-Day Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (Access the slides here!)

Presented by: Todd Davenport, Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, University of the Pacific

Can automated language analyses identify cognitive deficits in Long COVID? (Access the slides here!)

Presented by: Tijana Simic, Department of Speech-Language Pathology, University of Toronto & Kathleen Fraser, National Research Council of Canada

People’s experiences of attempts to return to work and school with Long COVID: Findings from qualitative research conducted in the UK (Access the slides here!)

Presented by: Alice MacLean, University of Stirling

Establishing a Framework of Measurement for Long COVID Research and Practice: Updates from a Scoping Study Involving Evidence Review and Consultation (Access the slides here!)

Presented by: Kiera McDuff & Julia Nathanson, Department of Physical Therapy, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto

Research Evidence Session 2 - Rehabilitation across COVID Care Continuums

Aim of Session: To foster knowledge transfer and exchange on evidence related to COVID Rehabilitation research, specifically; i) identifying and examining safe approaches to rehabilitation; ii) examining the role, implementation and impact of models of rehabilitation care; iii) assessing access to safe, timely and appropriate rehabilitation and other health care provider services.

Understanding the Impacts of Post-Exertional Malaise in Individuals with Long COVID Participating in a Physical Rehabilitation Trial (Access the slides here!)

Presented by: Tania Janaudis-Ferreira, School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University

Update on CANCOV, RECLAIM and Long COVID Web (from an investigator perspective) (Access the slides here!)

Presented by: Angela Cheung, University Health Network and University of Toronto

Long COVID and One’s Ability to Work (Access the slides here!)

Presented by: Samantha Hancock, DAN Department of Management & Organizational Studies, Western University

Camelia: Canadian Learning Health Systems for Infection-Associated Chronic Conditions (Access the slides here!)

Presented by: Simon Decary, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Sherbrooke

Overview of 2025 International Forum on COVID Rehabilitation Research:

The Rehabilitation Science Research Network for COVID hosted the 2025 International Forum on COVID Rehabilitation Research on Friday April 25, 2025. The Forum was held in hybrid format (accessible via Zoom or in-person in Toronto, Ontario) on Friday April 25, 2025 from 9:00am – 5:00pm EDT at the University of Toronto, 500 University Avenue (Rm 140).

The Forum included over 28 speakers from Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Presentations included one Keynote presentation, two Panel Sessions, and two Research Evidence Sessions. The Keynote Session was delivered by Dr. Julia Moore Vogel, entitled, Wearables and Rehabilitation in Long COVID: Research and Personal Reflections from a Patient-Researcher.

Panel Session 1, Mobilizing Research Evidence into Rehabilitation Professional Curricula to Inform Safe Rehabilitation in Long COVID, included 7 speakers (all in-person) and 1 moderator. The aim of this session was to discuss the need, strategies and process for integrating evidence on safe and effective rehabilitation assessment and treatment approaches in Long COVID into rehabilitation professional curricula. Panel Session 2, Navigating the Maze of the Continuum of Care for Long COVID Rehabilitation, included 5 speakers (all in-person) and 1 moderator. The aim of this panel discussion was to explore the experiences of navigating rehabilitation services in the context of Long COVID. 

Research Evidence Session 1 focused on Health and Disability across Acute and Long COVID Illness Trajectories and featured 6 speakers who presented on 4 topics. Research Evidence Session 2 focused on Rehabilitation across COVID Care Continuums featured 4 speakers. 

Posters at the 2025 International Forum on COVID Rehabilitation Research

The 2025 International Forum on COVID Rehabilitation Research featured 14 presentations. All of the poster abstracts can be accessed on the website.

The Forum provided an opportunity for speakers and attendees to respond to current research evidence and present new and emerging research evidence and experiences of COVID rehabilitation. Structured discussions and Q&A segments enabled participation throughout the day and facilitators engaged attendees both in-person and online, while adhering to the agenda. Overall, the 2025 International Forum on COVID Rehabilitation Research was a successful event that built on feedback received from last year’s inaugural Forum. Links to the Forum presentations are available on the Network YouTube Channel.

The aims of this forum were to:

Forum objective 1 - 1) To facilitate knowledge transfer and exchange (KTE) in the field of rehabilitation research related to COVID-19, clinical practice and service delivery among persons with lived experiences and affected by COVID-19, including acute COVID-19, and Long COVID, researchers, caregivers, clinicians, educators, trainees, representatives of community organizations and policy stakeholders in Canada and internationally

1) To facilitate knowledge transfer and exchange (KTE) focused on research priorities related to Long COVID and rehabilitation research, clinical practice and service delivery among people living with Long COVID and other chronic episodic conditions, researchers, clinicians, educators, representatives of community organizations, and policy-makers in Canada and internationally; 

Objective 2 - To establish new and strengthen existing research collaborations and partnerships in the field of COVID-19 rehabilitation

2) To establish new research and clinical partnerships in Long COVID and rehabilitation internationally; and 

Objective 3 - To foster mentorship and training in COVID-19 rehabilitation research among faculty, clinicians and trainees

3) To foster mentorship and training in Long COVID and rehabilitation clinical practice and research. 

Acknowledgements:

The 2025 International Forum on COVID Rehabilitation Research and the Rehabilitation Science Research Network for COVID are funded by Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto.

The 2025 International Forum on COVID Rehabilitation Research is supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

The 2025 International Forum on COVID Rehabilitation Research is hosted in collaboration with FisioCamera.

The 2025 International Forum on COVID Rehabilitation Research is hosted in collaboration with Long COVID Physio.

The 2025 International Forum on COVID Rehabilitation Research is hosted in collaboration with Long COVID Web