Today we launch a new database for early stage UK COVID-19 research to boost collaboration and map the preclinical discovery landscape.
We are asking researchers from across academia and industry to submit projects to this database through a short optional survey and will publish the results through our new open access database:
http://covidpipeline.acmedsci.ac.uk/
The COVID-19 pandemic and its wider implications affect everyone, in the UK and around the world. In response, the UK and global scientific community are working at pace to understand the science of this virus and how it interacts with the body.
New medicines to treat COVID-19, or directly target the SARS-CoV-2 virus, are likely to be key to the long-term control of the pandemic. We need to keep ensuring that this research effort is collaborative and efficient.
We want to help researchers identify collaborations, share expertise, materials and methods, avoid duplicating effort and prioritise the most promising research.
By providing an overview of the existing landscape, we also hope that to enable policymakers and funding bodies like the Academy to make better strategic decisions for how best to fund and support COVID-19 preclinical research.
This is why we are appealing to all those working on a pre-clinical therapeutic research project to take the time to update this database, and keep it updated in the months to come.
Fill in the survey and view submitted projects here
Professor Michael Malim FRS FMedSci, Chair of the Project, said:
"The sustained and long-term control of COVID-19 will require new anti-infectives. In launching our registry for preclinical drug development, the Academy seeks to foster transparency, collaboration and policy development in this vital area of research. We hope that this resource will be of broad importance, and we encourage scientists from industry and academy to freely contribute relevant work."
We welcome and encourage a range of contributions from both academia and industry – you do not need to fill in all available fields if you have concerns around confidentiality or intellectual property.
Project Chair Professor Michael Malim FRS FMedSci and the Academy’s President, Professor Sir Robert Lechler PMedSci, have also written a letter asking researchers to add their projects to this database.
We will maintain the database and the survey will remain open throughout the research response to COVID-19 to enable researchers to view and update existing projects, and also add new ones.
Once it is in use, we will also review the database to help funders and policymakers identify gaps in research, duplication of efforts, or urgently missing expertise or materials and so work out how best to support the efforts of the research community.
For more information about this project, please visit the project page, see the website, or contact Dr Claire Cope claire.cope@acmedsci.ac.uk
Invitation to submit research projects to COVID-19 preclinical drug database