Environment submissions database

COVID-19 profoundly impacted the institution, with much research activity halted, inclusive of lab- and studio-based research; human-centred research; exhibitions and all international travel relating to research. A COVID-19 research working group was established to monitor and manage recovery in the institution. Throughout the pandemic staff have had to shift efforts towards the provision of online and blended learning delivery for our teaching programmes. This, combined with restricted access to on-campus research facilities, led to a reduction in the number of grant applications being submitted and an anticipated dip in research outputs volume in the year ahead. Our Annual Research Review will monitor impacts and support staff ambitions. We have joined the short-term research effort to address the challenges posed by COVID-19 to the tune of £9.5m new research awards. These include for example: • Participation in the IMI2 Consortium CARE (Corona Accelerated R&D in Europe), the CO-CONNECT Curated and Open Analysis Research Platform (UKRI), the UK Coronavirus Immunology Consortium UK-CIC; the national consortium PHOSP-COVID to understand and improve the long-term health outcomes post-hospitalisation (DHSC/UKRI); a world-wide network to leverage the ReFRAME drug repurposing collection for activity against SARS-CoV-2 and production of Coronavirus Toolkit of all SARS-CoV-2 proteins and antibodies by the MRC-PPU. • Commercial clinical trials including the STOP-COVID19 investigating use of a drug to inhibit the development of ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome) and prevent mechanical ventilation. • Contributions to interventions to support doctors, research to understand the work-related stress of redeployed nurses and the impact of COVID-19 on pupils, parents and people with severe mental health illness. • We provided our facilities and expertise to support the response to Covid19, including assisting the establishment of Scotland’s central COVID-19 testing facility at the University of Glasgow and providing two highly specialised Thermo KingFisher Flex robots to the National Diagnostic Centre in Milton Keynes to aid nationwide testing. • We informed national guidelines for the reopening of dental services and dental care during COVID-19, including Management of Acute Dental Problems for the Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme and recommendations in the UK Public Health England Infection Prevention and Control guidelines. The financial sustainability of our research has been challenged. We used the no-cost and costed extensions which funders made available to manage project delays including for PhD extensions. However, delays in funding calls unquestionably presents risks for talent retention. Financial pressures on charity funders, who support much of our research, and volatility in international student recruitment will require active management in the years ahead. COVID-19 has reinforced our commitment to addressing the needs of diverse members of staff and students, especially those from certain equality groups who may have been disproportionately impacted. We conducted regular Pulse surveys to monitor the impact on staff, which resulted in changes to policy and practice, including flexible working arrangements to ensure specific requirements are met and provided (such as reasonable adjustments for working from home, caring responsibilities).