# Understanding the Brycen Gray and Ben Price COVID-19 Cognitive Research Act

This bill funds scientific research into "brain fog" and other thinking problems that some people experience after getting COVID-19. The bill is named after two people who apparently suffered from these cognitive issues following their infections. Essentially, Congress is saying that we need to better understand why some COVID-19 patients struggle with memory, concentration, and mental clarity—sometimes for months after they recover from the virus itself.

The bill gives the National Science Foundation (a federal agency that funds research) $10 million over three years to award grants to universities and research organizations studying this problem. Researchers can investigate how COVID-19 affects the brain and thinking processes, why it happens, how long it lasts, and whether certain groups of people are more vulnerable. The bill specifically mentions that children and adolescents should be included in this research, and it emphasizes studying effects on underrepresented populations like poor, rural, and minority communities who might be overlooked in typical research.

Beyond just funding research, the bill also requires the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine—a prestigious independent organization—to study what we currently know about COVID-related cognitive problems and identify gaps in our understanding. They have 16 months to complete this review and make recommendations about how different government agencies and organizations should coordinate their efforts to tackle this issue. The National Science Foundation director then has to report back to Congress within three months about which recommendations they plan to actually implement.

In practical terms, this bill acknowledges that cognitive problems after COVID-19 are real and serious enough to warrant dedicated federal research funding. If you or someone you know has experienced persistent brain fog or memory issues after COVID-19, this bill represents an effort to understand what's happening and eventually develop better treatments or prevention strategies.

Brycen Gray and Ben Price COVID–19 Cognitive Research Act

Gonzalez, Anthony

Brycen Gray and Ben Price COVID-19 Cognitive Research Act This bill directs the National Science Foundation (NSF) to award competitive, merit-reviewed grants to eligible entities, including through the RAPID funding mechanism, to support interdisciplinary research on the disruption of regular cognitive processes associated with both short-term and long-term COVID-19 infections, including with respect to children and adolescents. No later than 45 days after the enactment of this bill, the NSF shall enter into an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to study and produce a report on the disruption of cognitive processes associated with COVID-19 infection.