Environment submissions database

The Covid-19 lockdown led to a temporary halt to laboratory and most non-Covid trials during the first lockdown. Those projects that could be done from home continued. Some research staff were furloughed following discussion with funders. Most staff with clinical commitments focused on clinical care, particularly our large cohort of Infection specialists. We made an immediate decision to support SARS-CoV-2 research, and quickly initiated Covid-19 clinical trials and diagnostic studies. Over 50 investigators from all Research Institutes switched research focus. St George’s became a leading Trust in the UK, recruiting to the highest number of NIHR-approved Covid vaccine and treatment trials. Paul Heath was a senior co-ordinator of the Oxford ChAdOx1 nCov-19 vaccine trials and national lead for the successful Novovax vaccine trial. Tim Planche led on diagnostic provision for Southwest London Pathology Services and combined this with studies on diagnostic antibody responses. We secured funding to convert one of our containment level 3 laboratories to a dedicated SARS- Cov-2 facility. SGUL researchers were active in public engagement, in particular Elisabetta Groppelli was interviewed in the media >200 times. We were awarded grants from Mologic/Wellcome Trust/DFID (Krishna), Merck (Ma/Groppelli), Action Medical Research for Children (LeDoare), EU (LeDoare), Rosetrees (Staines; Sofat) and St George’s Charitable Foundation to work on Covid-19. SGUL launched the Coronavirus Action Fund to support research. SGUL researchers joined genomics consortia such as PHA4GE SARS-CoV-2 (doi:10.20944/preprints202008.0220.v1), and COG-UK HOCI (https://www.ucl.ac.uk/comprehensive-clinical-trials-unit/research-projects/2021/jan/cog-uk-hoci). Researchers returned to laboratory work in June with appropriate safety protocols in place and following specific adaptations to the estate. However, many non-Covid clinical trials and some overseas work remained suspended. Underspend on research grants was significant, predominantly due to projects delaying starts and associated costs. Delays and extensions to many grants and studentships were negotiated with funders, some with additional funding. The university provided support to graduate students where funders did not. At the senior level, our expertise was required nationally (e.g. Jon Friedland on MHRA), and was diverted with returning staff to site safely and providing online teaching, non-symptomatic testing and staff and student welfare. Covid-19 responsiveness delayed some REF2021 preparation, in particular, the writing of Impact Cases and Environment statements due to commitments of academic clinical researchers. As of March 2021, the pandemic surge demands on the Trust are reducing, and clinical research is re-commencing but there are many barriers remaining. SGUL undergraduate and postgraduate student recruitment is very strong for 2021 which is encouraging. However, finances will be negatively impacted by decreased charity funding, withdrawal of London weighting for teaching and the discontinuation of Global Challenges Research Funding (ODA) by the government secondary to the pandemic. Prior to Covid, we had an ambitious new strategy to increase research funding by 75% between 2018 and 2022 which was on track to be achieved, but has been significantly affected. Covid has delayed an ambitious plan to Invest in our estate. However, many projects including TACRI, CAG expansion and a new university wide seminar have been successfully re-started in late 2020/2021, generating broad enthusiasm.