FALCON correspondence

August 23, 2026 · Redacted public copy prepared October 13, 2026

Prepared from the original email messages in Robert DeRosa’s inbox. This is a reformatted transcript, not an image of the original email. Email addresses have been redacted from the displayed headers; Email addresses, telephone numbers, a mobile number, office location and postal address are redacted in the signatures. Message routing and security headers, automated external-sender notices and the duplicate quoted original message are omitted. Only the August 23 referral and original request are included. Signature graphic placeholders from the email text are retained. The substantive wording, including original spelling, is retained; line wrapping and spacing are normalized.

Clare Mitchell’s HAHSO referral

From: Clare Elizabeth Mitchell [REDACTED: email address]
To: Robert DeRosa [REDACTED: email address]
Cc: Sarah Bouma; Ahmed Khan [REDACTED: email addresses]
Date: August 23, 2026, 7:31:47 a.m. EDT (11:31:47 UTC)
Subject: RE: Clarification requested regarding HAHSO’s role in the FALCON trial

Dear Mr. DeRosa

I am forwarding this email along to my colleagues, Ms Sarah Bouma, and Dr. Khan, as I am no longer working for HAHSO. I am certain that they will be able to answer your questions.

Sincerely Clare

Clare Mitchell, MHA, LLM (Health) (She/Her/Hers) Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor Office of the President [REDACTED: office location] [REDACTED: telephone number] [REDACTED: mobile telephone number] [REDACTED: email address] [Globe icon] web: https://president.mcmaster.ca/ [McMaster University Brighter World] McMaster University [REDACTED: postal address] McMaster University recognizes and acknowledges that it is located on the traditional territories of the Mississauga and Haudenosaunee nations, and within the lands protected by the Dish With One Spoon wampum agreement.

Original request from Robert DeRosa

From: Robert DeRosa [REDACTED: email address]
To: Clare Elizabeth Mitchell [REDACTED: email address]
Date: August 23, 2026, 6:00:02 a.m. EDT (10:00:02 UTC)
Subject: Clarification requested regarding HAHSO’s role in the FALCON trial

Dear Ms. Mitchell,

ClinicalTrials.gov lists the Hamilton Academic Health Sciences Organization as a collaborator on the planned FALCON Long COVID trial. A petition asking McMaster not to begin recruitment until independent scientific, ethical and patient-led review has surpassed 1,250 verified signatures.

Because public information about HAHSO’s current role is limited, I am asking for precise clarification rather than making assumptions. Please confirm whether HAHSO is funding or administering any part of FALCON; the amount and conditions of any funding; what approval, reporting or oversight role HAHSO holds; whether practitioner payments, licensing, trademark or course-material costs are involved; and what conflict-of-interest declarations or management requirements apply.

Please also confirm whether HAHSO can require or support publication of the full protocol and statistical analysis plan and whether it will consider the petition’s concerns before recruitment begins.

Please confirm receipt by Tuesday, August 25, and advise who will coordinate a response. I would appreciate a substantive written response by Tuesday, September 1, 2026, or an indication of when one can be expected. If you are only the public routing contact, please forward this message to the appropriate HAHSO official and copy me on that referral.

Thank you,

Robert DeRosa, Long COVID patient advocate [REDACTED: telephone number] [REDACTED: email address]

Petition: https://www.change.org/p/long-covid-patients-deserve-better-pause-mcmaster-s-falcon-lightning-process-trial Trial registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07697261