- Midlands region contributes £90 million to the fight against COVID-19 through research
- A wide range of clinical specialisms across the region including respiratory disease, BAME health, and diabetes
- Experts in the Midlands are leading 81 new COVID-19 research programmes
The vast research excellence and expertise from across the West Midlands that has helped in the fight against Covid-19, has been highlighted in a report published by Midlands Innovation: Mobilising Research Excellence in the Midlands to Tackle COVID-19.
More than £90 million has gone into research that has allowed universities, hospitals and businesses to deliver regional, national and global support during the Coronavirus pandemic.
Aston University research and activity during COVID-19 is cited in numerous parts of the report including reference to an innovative device, that was designed by engineers in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, to stop patients accidentally spreading coronavirus to ear, nose and throat surgeons - and was rolled out free to NHS clinics across the UK.
Other research from Aston Medical School looked at how COVID-19 disproportionately affects BAME people with recommendations made to Parliament. Aston Business school research on how to support SME staff and enhance their productivity in the context of COVID-19 was included, as well as podcasts that were produced to support SMEs through the crisis.
Professor Alec Cameron, Vice-Chancellor, Aston University and Chair of Midlands Innovation said: “I am proud of the way Aston has contributed to the West Midlands’ considerable effort in addressing COVID-19 and the challenges it has presented. We, like many others, have shown that our flexibility, swiftness of action, and strong commitment to our community has had a really positive impact on what can be achieved in the face of adversity. Aston places great importance on contributing to our region, and our response to the pandemic has given us the opportunity to demonstrate this in a positive and tangible way.”
Key findings of the Midlands Innovation report include:
• Experts in the Midlands are leading 81 new COVID-19 research programmes.
• The region is playing a crucial and integral role in the world-leading genome sequencing consortium which is identifying the strains of COVID-19 recently in the UK and internationally.
• The Midlands has used its internationally leading research excellence and clinical trials infrastructure to recruit over 50,000 patients to COVID-19 clinical trials, driving the discovery of new treatments and scientific insights.
• The region has successfully bid for £45m of funding enabling the delivery of £90m of cutting-edge COVID-19 related research.
• The region was at the forefront of the early detection of the heightened risks of COVID-19 to the country’s Black and Ethnic Minority population and bringing this to clinical attention.
The report cites the large volume of research projects and clinical trials being either led or undertaken in the West Midlands as exceptional, with the region now hosting a world-class COVID-19 clinical trials environment and over 50,000 patients recruited by 542 sites in the region, participating in 46 COVID-19 clinical research trials.
It also highlights the position of the West Midlands Life Science community, which is made up of over 1,200 companies, including the country’s highest number of medical technologies companies has played a key role in the national effort against COVID-19.
The region is also driving the sector internationally, not least because of the world-class Midlands universities, seven of which have Medical Schools including Aston and Birmingham. These are all working to promote strong collaborations between academia, industry and health. A prime example of this collaboration is the University of Oxford / AstraZeneca UK vaccine, which is being manufactured by Cobra Biologics on Keele University's Science and Innovation Park.
A wide range of clinical specialisms across the region are discussed in the report; it includes respiratory disease, BAME health, and diabetes, and that we are leading the global effort in the methodologies used to evaluate and accredit diagnostic tests for COVID-19.
The report also highlights how the Midlands is ideally placed to face the future challenges of COVID-19, including long COVID, rehabilitation and returning to work post COVID-19. Utilising the new National Rehabilitation Centre which is to be built in Leicestershire. The Midlands will continue to drive forward research excellence to fight COVID-19 and save lives.
Sir John Peace, Chairman of the Midlands Engine, which has recently launched Midlands Engine Health said: “The Midlands is delivering world-leading, life changing clinical research in response to COVID-19. Working together across the region, the NHS, universities and industry are meeting the challenge, driving lifesaving treatments for COVID-19 and improving outcomes.”
Dr Darren Clark, Chief Executive Medilink Midlands (representing the Midlands Life Sciences industry association), said: “The Midlands has a unique set of capabilities and offers for Life Science companies. Our tenacity and resilience allows us to weather whatever storms life throws at us. With COVID, as with any problem we are faced with, the Midlands Life Science industry delivered a solution to what seemed at times, an insurmountable obstacle.”
The report is co-produced by the Midlands Health Alliance, Midlands Innovation Health, and Medilink Midlands to highlight the region’s research excellence to support national COVID-19 pandemic efforts.
ENDS
- Notes to editors
The report: Mobilising Research Excellence in the Midlands to Tackle COVID-19 can be accessed here: https://midlandsinnovation.org.uk/write/MediaUploads/Resources/Midlands_Covid-19_Report.pdf
References to Aston University in the report:
P20 SNAP device
P23 Alexis Paton’s research on how COVID disproportionately affects BAME people and her recommendations to Parliament to mitigate these effects
P26 Conversation article on how to use AI, 3D printing and blockchain to manage supply chains in a crisis
P28 Professor Prasanta Dey’s research on how to support SME staff and enhance their productivity in the context of COVID
P34 Dr Ian Maidment’s realist review of how community pharmacies can support the COVID effort
P55 Conference Aston providing free hotel rooms to NHS key workers
P56 Production of hand sanitiser
P59 Aston Business School podcasts to support SMEs through the crisis
P64 message from Alec Cameron
About Aston University founded in 1895 and a University since 1966, Aston is a long established university led by its three main beneficiaries – students, business and the professions, and our region and society. Aston University is located in Birmingham and at the heart of a vibrant city and the campus houses all the university’s academic, social and accommodation facilities for our students. Professor Alec Cameron is the Vice-Chancellor & Chief Executive.
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