Environment submissions database

Between late March and the middle of July 2020, there was acute disruption to the research environment. Most laboratories shut; the only exceptions being Covid-19 related work in the life sciences and the Biomedical Science Unit. Clinical trials and patient and public involvement (PPI) programmes experienced significant disruption, as did other forms of fieldwork, especially international fieldwork. The research support team, working closely with Keele’s Finance directorate established a rapid and responsive audit of the delivery and financial challenges facing funded projects. This was used to feedback to funders and the university’s Covid emergency central governance framework (chaired by the VC). While labs reopened in mid-July, and have remained open under Covid-secure arrangements, clinical trials and PPIE continue to face very significant disruption in the face of the second and third lockdowns. Our GCRF programme of research has been notably affected. Disrupted projects (UKRI and QR supported) have been actively managed and mitigations put in place. However, essential international work in, for example, North and Sub-Saharan Africa (research into migration, malaria, crop protection) has been delayed. Where possible aspects of this work have been undertaken online. Uncertainty over international travel means that GCRF research faces an ongoing challenge. In common with the sector, Keele’s Postgraduate Researchers have experienced a severely disrupted period, which is ongoing. The Keele Doctoral Academy has coordinated the university’s extensive support arrangements for all research students. In pursuit of equitable mitigation, including funded extensions, our approach to all students is modelled where appropriate on the phased funding support put in place by UKRI for its students, recognising the importance attached to EDI considerations around students with caring responsibilities and vulnerabilities. We expect to manage the long-term of effects on the postgraduate community, offering support for loss of confidence and mental health consequences. The university is alert to the way in which ongoing conditions will also affect all with significant responsibility for research and is committed to undertake an equality impact analysis of the effects of the pandemic on career trajectories. Clinical academics, particularly GPs, in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences have played a full role in the local NHS response to the crisis. While this has sometimes entailed a prioritising diversion of resources away from established projects, Keele’s researchers have responded proactively re-shaping their research to advance understandings of the pandemic and its collateral effects. Major new studies include a real-time systematic review of underlying weaknesses of data analysis and their relationship to flawed decision-making (Riley); the effects of prolonged fatigue on those suffering from Long Covid (Chew-Graham); the negative impact of Covid treatments on heart attack victims and heart procedure patients who have missed out on hospital treatment (Mamas). Virology expertise (Forrester-Soto) has been shared on national radio and TV. Legal research (Eccleston Turner) has been UKRI funded to investigate international vaccine justice. Policy advice has been generated (Wells) on road safety during and after lockdown. A citizen science project (Scott) has investigated the effect of the lockdown on urban wildlife.