In recently published guidance the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) is seeking to ensure that both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 research is protected during a ‘second wave’ of high COVID-19 activity.
The guidance states that “research staff funded by NIHR should not be deployed to front line duties except in exceptional circumstances.” This contrasts to the ‘first wave’ when many staff from the NIHR’s Local Clinical Research Networks and Clinical Research Facilities were deployed to the clinical front line in anticipation of heightened need.
In May, the NIHR published ‘The Restart Framework’ to support the restarting of research paused due to COVID-19 and this remains unchanged. As well as highlighting the need for research into COVID-19, it also highlights the importance of non-COVID-19 studies where the research protocol includes an urgent treatment or intervention without which patients could come to harm.
Although this guidance is not of direct relevance to our Research Centres of Excellence, it shows ambition and a direction of travel that we at Brain Tumour Research applaud. Above all, it shows a continued recognition of the need for non-COVID related research to continue and be sustained during the pandemic so we aren’t left picking up the pieces and regretting the loss of momentum post-pandemic.
You can read the guidance here.
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