Rapid research in the time of COVID-19

24 April 2020

Researchers at the Centre for Academic Primary Care are supporting the local applied research community’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which is being co-ordinated by NIHR ARC West.

Early on in the crisis, Dr Jeremy Horwood, Associate Professor at the University of Bristol’s Centre for Academic Primary Care and an ARC West team lead, was approached by Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (BNSSG CCG). They wanted researchers to do rapid evidence reviews and analysis of routine data to help inform decision-making and to support their strategic response to COVID-19.

Working with ARC Manager Lara Edwards and the ARC West admin team, a pool of over 70 volunteer researchers was quickly assembled to respond to requests for help. The researchers are from across the NIHR infrastructure in the West of England and the region’s universities, as well as drawing on expertise from Applied Research Collaborations in other parts of the country. This offer of help has been extended to all CCGs and local authorities across ARC West’s geography.

The reports are published on the ARC West website for others nationally and internationally to use the evidence summaries in planning their response to Covid-19.

Dr Horwood said: "The rapid spread of COVID-19 has meant that the NHS and local authorities have had to quickly adapt their services. To enable them to do this, it is vital that they have access to the best evidence, including from other countries that have successfully responded to the pandemic.

“It’s fantastic that so many researchers from UWE, University of Bath and University of Bristol’s Medical School have signed up to help with rapid evidence and evaluation support to help inform the local, national and international COVID-19 response."

The research teams who have responded to the call include:

NIHR Applied Research Collaboration West (NIHR ARC West), University of Bristol and University of the West of England
NIHR Bristol Biomedical Research Centre (NIHR Bristol BRC), University of Bristol
NIHR Health Protection Research Unit (HPRU) in Behavioural Science and Evaluation, University of Bristol
Bristol Trials Centre (BTC), University of Bristol
Bristol Appraisal and Review of Research Group (BARR), University of Bristol
Centre for Academic Primary Care (CAPC), University of Bristol
Centre for Academic Mental Health (CAMH), University of Bristol
Centre for Health and Clinical Research, University of the West of England
Centre for Healthcare Innovation and Improvement, University of Bath
Centre for Motivation and Health Behaviour Change, University of Bath
Centre for Public Health and Well Being, University of the West of England
Departments of Psychology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology, and Department for Health, University of Bath
Centre for Research in Health and Social Care, University of Bristol
Elizabeth Blackwell Institute (EBI), University of Bristol
Health Economics Bristol (HEB), University of Bristol
Integrative Epidemiology Unit (IEU), University of Bristol
Multi-parameter Evidence Synthesis Research Group (MPES), University of Bristol

Further information

About the Centre for Academic Primary Care
The Centre for Academic Primary Care (CAPC) at the University of Bristol is a leading centre for primary care research in the UK, one of nine forming the NIHR School for Primary Care Research. It sits within Bristol Medical School, an internationally recognised centre of excellence for population health research and teaching. Follow us on Twitter: @capcbristol.

Support University of Bristol COVID-19 research
University of Bristol researchers are part of a global network of scientists responding urgently to the challenge of the coronavirus pandemic. Find out how you can support their critical work.

About the National Institute for Health Research
The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) is the nation's largest funder of health and care research. The NIHR:

funds, supports and delivers high quality research that benefits the NHS, public health and social care
engages and involves patients, carers and the public in order to improve the reach, quality and impact of research
attracts, trains and supports the best researchers to tackle the complex health and care challenges of the future
invests in world-class infrastructure and a skilled delivery workforce to translate discoveries into improved treatments and services
partners with other public funders, charities and industry to maximise the value of research to patients and the economy.

The NIHR was established in 2006 to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research, and is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care. In addition to its national role, the NIHR supports applied health research for the direct and primary benefit of people in low- and middle-income countries, using UK aid from the UK government.

See: NIHR's response to COVID-19