Yorkshire's COVID-19 Scientific Advisory Group (C-SAG)

The past few weeks have seen rapid and dramatic changes to the way we all live our lives because of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Our research programmes have also been impacted, with many research projects paused whilst we all respond to the challenges the pandemic presents.  We have however been busier than ever having repurposed our research expertise and infrastructure to support the local response to and recovery from COVID-19. 

On Tuesday 24th March we held our first COVID-19 Scientific Advisory Group (C-SAG) meeting with our partners in the NHS and Local Authority.  C-SAG is led on behalf of partners by Bradford Institute for Health Research and provides not only a forum linking researchers and practitioners but also one linking disciplines within our NIHR funded Applied Research Collaboration Yorkshire and Humber themes and projects.  

In just five weeks, some of our achievements include:

Our findings and insights are being shared directly with local decision makers and with partners throughout the region including networks led by Public Health England and West Yorkshire and Harrogate Care Partnership, informing local action.  We are engaging with our communities to understand how the pandemic may be having differential impacts, shaping our ongoing research. We are also continuing to develop relationships with other ARCs and partners including researchers and industry, to harness our collective expertise and collaborate to address the response and recovery challenges of the pandemic which will be experienced for many years to come.

To get in touch please email: CSAG@bthft.nhs.uk

This blog was written by Chris Cartwright, Theme Manager, Early Life and Prevention theme, Y&H ARC.


29 April 2020