Join us for the National Forum on Rehabilitation-Informed Pandemic Preparedness and Long COVID Research at the University of British Columbia’s Point Grey campus in Vancouver, BC on October 13-14, 2026.
This forum will bring together researchers, clinicians, and people living with Long COVID to share ideas, build connections, and develop plans for future research.
Our goal is to collaboratively develop ideas for future research in two targeted areas: “Safe Approaches to Rehabilitation” and “Access to Safe and Timely Rehabilitation.” We selected these two targeted areas by surveying researchers, clinicians, people living with Long Covid, and caregivers. [1]
Keep in the Loop: Register for the event now or just sign up to stay informed with details!
When: October 13–14, 10:00 AM – 2:10 PM (the two days just before the 4th Canadian Symposium on Long COVID)
Where: Room 1312 in the Life Science Centre at 2350 Health Sciences Mall, UBC, Vancouver, BC.
Cost: There is no fee for this event! However, registration is highly encouraged so we can plan for lunch and refreshments!
The program will include a welcome keynote, panel discussions that highlight a range of perspectives and experiences, and working sessions designed to collaboratively develop future research ideas.
Streaming of the keynote and panel discussions will be available. The workshop sessions to develop research ideas will be in-person only.
Day 1 (October 13): Safe Approaches to Rehabilitation
What are safe ways to self-manage Long COVID symptoms? What are best practices for treating people with post-exertional malaise (PEM)? What is the impact of safer management approaches such as pacing? How can caregivers of people with Long COVID be supported?
Day 1 (October 13) Program Details
10:00 am -10:50 am: Welcome and Keynote presentation by Dr. Kelly K. O’Brien of the Rehabilitation Science Research Network for COVID, to set the stage for our work over the next two days to develop research ideas.
10:50 am -11:00 am: Break
11:00 am – 12:00 pm: Panel discussion with individuals with lived experience on “Lived Experience and Safe Approaches to Rehabilitation,” facilitated by Sarah England of the Post-COVID-19 Interdisciplinary Clinical Care Network.
12:00-12:45 pm: Catered lunch. Space will be available to eat outside.
12:45-1:30 pm: Break-out rooms: facilitated small group discussions to collaboratively develop research ideas on the topic of Safe Approaches to Rehabilitation.
1:30 pm – 1:40 pm: Break
1:40 pm – 2:10 pm: Research Priorities Brainstorm: We come together as the full group to collaboratively develop a draft of research priorities from the small group discussions.
Day 2 (October 14): Access to Safe and Timely Rehabilitation
What factors support or create barriers to accessing safer and timely Long COVID care? What knowledge do healthcare providers have of acute COVID-19 and Long COVID? What is the healthcare-navigation experience like for people with Long COVID and their caregivers?
Day 2 (October 14) Program Details
10:00 am -10:10 am: Welcome and overview of the day
10:10 am – 11:00 am: Panel discussion on “Access to Safe and Timely Rehabilitation (panel of researchers, clinicians, and health authority staff members – panel members are being confirmed.)
11:00 am to 11:10 am: Break
11:10 am-12:00 pm: Break-out rooms: facilitated small group discussions to collaboratively develop research ideas on the topic of Access to Safe and Timely Rehabilitation.
12:00 pm-12:45 pm: Catered lunch. Space will be available to eat outside.
12:45 pm to 1:30 pm: Research Priorities Brainstorm:We come together as the full group to collaboratively develop a draft of research priorities from the small group discussions.
1:30 pm to 1:40 pm: Break
1:40 to 2:10pm: Forum wrap-up and discussion of next steps.
Who’s involved: This event is a collaborative effort led by people with lived experience of Long COVID, along with the Post-COVID-19 Interdisciplinary Clinical Care Network (PC-ICCN), faculty members from University of British Columbia, University of Toronto, and Université Laval, and members of the Rehabilitation Science Research Network for COVID, Provincial Post-Covid Recovery Clinic, and the Long COVID Web Network.
4th Canadian Symposium on Long Covid (October 15-16)
Following the National Forum on Rehabilitation-Informed Pandemic Preparedness and Long COVID Research (October 13–14), attendees may also be interested in the 4th Canadian Symposium on Long COVID (October 15–16, virtual and in-person at UBC).
4th Canadian Symposium on Long COVID (October 15-16) Details
The 4th Canadian Symposium on Long COVID will bring together researchers, clinicians, and people with lived experience for two days of knowledge sharing, research insights, and connection. Offering a broad national platform spanning Long COVID research, clinical practice, and lived experience, the Symposium provides opportunities to engage with emerging evidence, explore diverse perspectives, and connect with the wider Long COVID community. Some of the topics covered will include emerging biomedical research and symptom mechanisms, pediatric and family impacts, rehabilitation and return-to-work strategies, healthcare system responses, prevention approaches, and more.
Attendees can also join the Pacific Healthcare Provider Meetup on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, between 3:00 – 4:00 PM, as part of the Symposium program, creating an additional opportunity for healthcare professionals to connect and build regional networks ahead of the main Symposium.
Dates: October 15–16, 2026 (virtual and in-person)
Venue: The Nest @ UBC
Register here: https://whova.com/portal/registration/YqU6VktXOzig6CgCx3qy/
Learn more: https://www.longcovidweb.ca/events/2026-symposium
Learn more about the events!
We respectfully acknowledge that the UBC Vancouver Point Grey campus is located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
We drew the potential research topics in our survey from the research priorities identified in the Framework of Research Priorities in COVID Rehabilitation.
O’Brien, K. K., McDuff, K., Chattu, V. K., Churchill, K., Colantonio, A., Davenport, T. E., … Cameron, J. I. (2025). A framework of research priorities in COVID rehabilitation from the Rehabilitation Science Research Network for COVID: an international consultation involving qualitative and quantitative research. Disability and Rehabilitation, 47(7), 1754–1763. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2024.2382904