Description:

Long covid is a poorly understood and poorly studied illness that is associated with millions missing, that is millions of people suffering with little support or hope. A better understanding of the biology and complexity of long covid could lead to individualised treatments and is an important opportunity for the functional medicine model. Join Dr. Ciara Wright and hear about her own personal, research and clinical experience, which gives us hopefulness for better care and recovery. 

Guest:

Dr. Ciara Wright

About our guest:

Dr. Ciara Wright is a science researcher and Nutritional Therapist. With a background in medical laboratory sciences and biology, Ciara obtained her PhD in epithelial immunology and worked post-doctorally in diverse research fields such as stem cell science, gene therapy, microbiology and immunology. She published a number of translational science papers and mentored PhD students during this time. 

After studying with the Institute of Health Sciences, Ciara now also runs a busy Nutritional Therapy practice in Ireland. She specialises in fertility, immunology and complex fatigue conditions and is an expert in functional medicine testing for the management of chronic illness.  Ciara keeps up to date with the latest research and manages her clinical team at Positive Nutrition, ensuring an evidence-based practice and the best supports for her patients.

Ciara continues her research with several collaborators, including a clinical trial on nutritional intervention in NAFLD, publishing nutritional reviews and case reports, and contributing to a book chapter on nutritional interventions for male fertility. Ciara has delivered lectures and spoken at international medical conferences in Ireland, UK, Europe and Africa.

Most recently, Ciara has overcome personal illness with Long Covid and Lyme disease. This experience has deepened her engagement with scientists and patient-led groups, helping to raise awareness and advance research into these complex conditions. She has published a case study on her own treatment and now collaborates with leading researchers in the field. As a way of giving back, she offers pro-bono support to severely affected chronically ill patients, while Positive Nutrition can offer some financial supports to provides access to functional medicine testing.

Guest website and links: 

www.positivenutrition.ie

Selection of our guest’s publications: 

• Remote Self-Measurements of Waking Blood Lactate Correlate with Post-Exertional Malaise: Results From “The Acid Test” Prepublication 2026, Presenting at American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting Feb 2026.

• Wright C, et al. Treatment of Long COVID With Enoxaparin. Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy Journal 36(1):p 70-73, January 2025.