Environment submissions database

Delays to building works: Construction of the ICR’s UK Research Partnership Investment Fund (UKRPIF)-funded Centre for Cancer Drug Discovery (CCDD) was completed in March 2020 and would have been operational in 2019/20 had it not been for the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. This led to delays with the final modifications alongside fit-out of signage, furniture, IT and AV equipment. As a result, the CCDD became operational in November 2020, rather than within the REF 2021 period. 4a Research Doctoral Degrees Awarded: Whilst research students across the ICR were affected by the pandemic as outlined below, the most significant impact on the number of doctorates awarded was in UOA1, where the majority of ICR clinical students are aligned. In the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ICR’s clinical students interrupted their studies and returned to frontline NHS duties to support the national response. Consequently three MD(Res) and three Clinical PhD students were awarded their doctoral research degrees in 2020/21, rather than in 2019/20 as originally scheduled. In addition, the national lockdown resulted in the closure of the ICR’s Theses Office and the University of London’s Diploma Production Office. This impacted both clinical and non-clinical research students who, despite successfully defending their thesis at viva during 2019/20, were unable to complete the formality of depositing the final print copies of their thesis and receiving their diploma by the end of July. Four students in this category have been awarded their research doctoral degrees in 2020/21 rather than 2019/20. 4b Research Income: The ICR’s research income for 2019/20 fell by £8.4M from 2018/19, a reduction of £4.0M for UOA1 and £4.4M for UOA5. The COVID-19 pandemic was the single biggest driver for this reduction. Prior to the pandemic, the ICR’s 2019 Annual Finance Return to Office for Students had forecasted research income for 2019/20 at £68.4M (an increase of £1.0M on 2018/19). This would have continued the trend of year-on-year increases seen over the previous three years since the change in accounting standards (FRS102) reflected in 2015/16’s audited accounts. The main impacts of the pandemic were: 1) During the first 2020 lockdown, the ICR’s laboratory buildings were closed in-line with the Government’s pandemic guidelines, and only reopened in July 2020 at less than 50% occupancy. This slowdown in research activity meant that the ICR recognised a lower level of research grant income in 2019/20, with a deferral of £4.1M into 2020/21. 2) Substantial cuts imposed by our major charitable funders on our active portfolio, including cuts of £6.0M from the ICR’s largest funder, Cancer Research UK, over the period of April 20-March 21. 3) Delays to research projects that had been due to start in the second half of 2019/20, but were pushed into 2020/21. 4) The cancellation of grant awarding rounds, by multiple funders, in 2019/20.