Research Bulletin - May 2020 (Issue 51)
 

This month marked International Clinical Trials Day (20 May), International Nurses Day (12 May) and International Midwives Day (5 May); and perhaps more so than any other year, the vital importance of research and the work of key professions in supporting this research is essential as we navigate the current COVID-19 pandemic. Clinical research is only possible thanks to the support and commitment of patients and the public working in partnership with researchers and healthcare professionals – and thanks must be extended to all.
 
Commitment, hardwork and altruism, has enabled over 3500 patients across Scotland to take part in COVID-19 related trials so far; and while we are still lacking proven, effective, treatments for COVID-19, these trials are vital to gather reliable evidence, advance scientific knowledge and research new ways to understand and treat the disease. Research is developing rapidly and new studies continue to be announced in Scotland - including human safety trials for the development of a COVID-19 vaccine being supported by Universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh, alongside NHS colleagues and Oxford University; and a new partnership to sequence human genomes in the fight against COVID-19 led by Dr Kenneth Baillie at University of Edinburgh. The vital importance is highlighted again by Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) of all four UK nations who have repeated the request for enrolling high proportions of patients with COVID-19 into trials, particularly as new admissions to hospital fall due to the success of social distancing measures.

Recognising the fall in hospital admissions paves the way for some gradual and incremental changes, Scottish Government has published (21 May) COVID-19: Framework for Decision Making – Scotland’s route map through and out of the crisis’. As we enter this new phase of the current pandemic, the time is right to work towards the restoration of a diverse portfolio of Health and Social Care Research here in Scotland, recognising research, development and innovation are an integral and vital part of our NHS.

NIHR have released a framework for restarting NIHR research activities, paused due to COVID-19. The Chief Scientist Office will monitor restart across Scotland and is setting up a COVID-19 Restart Operational Group to share best practice and support development of operational processes and guidance to support the resumption of non-COVID research activity across NHS Research Scotland.
 
Continue to stay safe and be assured we are here to do all we can to support our NHS, our colleagues and partners at this time.