East Midlands residents praised for contribution to COVID-19 research

Researchers have paid tribute to the thousands of volunteers from the East Midlands who have taken part in COVID-19 research trials during 2020.

Since the pandemic struck earlier this year hundreds of thousands of volunteers across the UK  have been involved in research studies to help experts to understand more about the virus, including more than 20,000 from the East Midlands alone.

Participants have been involved in over 70 urgent research studies into COVID-19 supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). 30 of those studies are being delivered in the East Midlands, with hospitals and GP practices providing opportunities and support to patients to encourage them to take part. 

Research studies have helped identify dexamethasone as a drug that can reduce mortality amongst hospitalised patients, are testing the effectiveness of a number of different vaccines to slow the spread of the virus, and are exploring ‘long COVID’ which leaves some people with effects for weeks or months beyond the initial illness.

Professor David Rowbotham, Clinical Director of the NIHR Clinical Research Network East Midlands, said:

“We are incredibly grateful to everyone across the East Midlands who has supported the research response to COVID-19. Research has helped us to understand more about how the virus affects people and enabled us to identify the groups at the highest risk of becoming seriously ill. 

“The past few months have been difficult but together we have made enormous progress in our efforts to tackle COVID-19. This would not have been possible without the dedication and determination of people across the region to be part of this enormous research effort, and I want to express my gratitude to all that have been involved.”

For further information about taking part in COVID-19 research, visit: bepartofresearch.nihr.ac.uk