The rapidly evolving Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation has significantly impacted the research and innovation community. Our core mission remains the support of health research, and top priority for resource allocation is the support of COVID-19 related research studies. At the same time it is crucial we act to maximise front-line clinical capacity.
The Health Board R&D offices are in close communication alongside the Chief Scientist Office and NHS Research Scotland. This is an evolving situation and all advice will be kept under review to reflect changing circumstances. Conscious of capturing these significant changes in a central resource, a new Coronavirus (COVID-19) hub has been set up on the NRS website. For the NRS community, NRS Central - a new internal communications platform has been launched to support resilience across the community at this challenging time. For more info and access contact central@nrs.org.uk.
As a community, we must all come together at this time. This is a huge collaborative effort and we are united in our fight to limit the outbreak, test new ways to treat the disease and ultimately save lives. Professor David Crossman, Chief Scientist (Health) is Vice-Chair of the Scottish Government COVID-19 Advisory Group. This new group will supplement the advice coming to the four nations from the Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies (SAGE) to further strengthen Scottish Government modelling work informing national and local decisions in Scotland during the pandemic.
We are utilising our full research infrastructure and expertise across Scotland in the fight against Coronavirus (COVID-19), underpinned by strong collaboration with partners across the UK. Study sites are, and will continue to be, set up across Scotland with additional support for Coronavirus (COVID-19) research being explored. This is a fast-moving area and we will continue to update via NRS website and @NHSResearchScot.
Stay safe and be assured we are here to do all we can to support our NHS, our colleagues and partners across the world at this time.
New expert group to study spread of COVID-19
A new expert group, including Professor David Crossman (Chief Scientist, Health), has been announced by the First Minister to provide additional scientific analysis of the impact of COVID-19 in Scotland. Read more
Coronavirus (COVID-19) research
The NIHR and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) have awarded £10.5 million of funding to six new research projects on developing and testing vaccines and therapies for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) with sites opening across Scotland. Read more
Rapid Research in COVID-19 Programme
The Scottish Government is making funding available for research aimed at tackling the challenges posed by the current Covid-19 pandemic in Scotland. Read more
First patients enrolled in new COVID-19 trial
With £3.3m of support from Scottish Government, sponsored by Oxford University and led by NHS Lothian in Scotland, the RECOVERY trial will seek to determine which treatments should be used in the fight against COVID-19. Read more
Arrangements for clinical trials in NHS Boards
The rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation will necessitate changes to arrangements for clinical research to help protect patient safety and support resilience in the NHS.Read more
CSO statement on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
A statement from CSO on Coronavirus (COVID-19) impact on research has important information for investigators, grant holders, fellows, topic networks and specialty groups. Read more
Guidance for sponsors, sites and researchers Guidance relating to Research Ethics Committee and NHS arrangements during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, including information for new studies and amendments to current studies.Read more
Process for fast track research Working with colleagues across Scotland and UK a fast track process for Coronavirus (COVID-19) research is in place. Read more
Guidance on research projects for students
The review of studies related to Coronavirus (COVID-19) are being prioritised. Applications for individual undergraduate and master’s student projects will not be reviewed from now until further notice. Read more
UK Government pledges increased R&D spend
The UK Government has pledged to more than double spending on UK government research and development (R&D) by 2024, with an increase of 15% for next year with further increases in successive years.Read more
Genome sequencing to map spread of COVID-19
The UK Government and the UK’s Chief Scientific Adviser have backed the UK’s leading clinicians and scientists to map how COVID-19 spreads and behaves by using whole-genome sequencing through a £20 million investment.Read more
Funding for therapeutics to treat COVID-19
LifeArc has made available an initial £10M for the identification of therapeutics that can be rapidly deployed to treat COVID-19. The aim is to run trials in patients during the current epidemic.Read more
Covid-19 testing specific expertise
A joint NHS/academic taskforce is looking to establish how the Scottish academic community can support NHS labs during the COVID-19 pandemic.Please register your experience and expertise in the form
Supporting resilience during COVID-19
To boost resilience at this challenging time, NRS Central (intranet) has launched – a new internal communications platform connecting individuals and teams across the NHS Research Scotland (NRS) community.Request a login
NHS Research Scotland (NRS) during COVID-19 NRS-CMT are working hard to ensure changes in research as a consequence of Coronavirus (COVID-19) are made easily available and shared throughout the community. The team are now working remotely, with all contact information availableon our website.
Events - Update Visit ourevents calendar for full details on cancelled or postponed events and conferences. Details on Glasgow Clinical Research Facility Educations courses can be found on thecourses page.
NHS Research Scotland (NRS) is a partnership of Scottish NHS Boards and the Chief Scientist Office (CSO) of Scottish Government. NHS Research Scotland Central Management Team is hosted by Scottish Health Innovations Ltd (Ltd).
Registered Number: SC 236303. Registered address: The Golden Jubilee National Hospital, Fourth Floor East, Agamemnon St, Clydebank, G81 4DY
