Achieving the remarkable: supporting and delivering COVID-19 research in Wales

On 28 February 2020, the first person in Wales tested positive for COVID-19, and within weeks the first COVID-19 urgent public health study in Wales was opened. Since then, the Welsh research community has worked tirelessly to support and deliver research into the development of new tests, treatments and vaccines for COVID-19.

Through the collaboration of people working in research at all levels across the NHS and in academia, a staggering 37 urgent public health studies have been delivered under the leadership of Health and Care Research Wales since March 2020.

Jayne Goodwin, research nurse and Head of Research Delivery at Health and Care Research Wales, continues to oversee COVID-19 studies in Wales.

Jayne said: “Our clinical research staff have worked together to deliver so much over the past 16 months. What we have achieved in Wales is remarkable and the results will continue to save lives.”

In May 2021, research carried out by YouGov on behalf of Health and Care Research Wales revealed that 91% of people in Wales think health research has been important during this pandemic. Jayne continued: “The support of the public, particularly patients and their families has been crucial. More than 46,000 people in Wales have participated in 102 COVID-19 research studies. As we move forward, we need to build on this interest in research and continue to show the general public that all research matters.”

Health and Care Research Wales supported the study setup and recruitment of participants to multiple vaccine trials, including Oxford/AstraZeneca, Janssen, Novavax and Medicago. Recently, studies into combining COVID-19 and seasonal flu vaccines (ComFluCOV), and into COVID-19 booster vaccinations (COVBoost), launched in Cardiff and Wrexham respectively.

Vaccine development is only one element of the huge research effort, and studies have been established to look into the best care and treatments. For example, RECOVERY, a UK-wide study, has recruited just over 1,250 Welsh participants so far and has already discovered various treatments to save the lives of seriously ill COVID-19 patients. Ongoing studies include REMAP-CAP, identifying new treatments for COVID-19 patients who are admitted into intensive care units across Wales, and PRINCIPLE, investigating which treatments are best for reducing the recovery time for patients at home.

With so many studies underway in Wales, Health and Care Research Wales established the £3 million Wales COVID-19 Evidence Centre, on behalf of the Welsh Government, to use this body of evidence to help answer the key questions around the pandemic and support decision making for the NHS and social care in Wales.

“Looking to the future, there’s so much we’ve learned from the pandemic that we can build on. Wales has proven it can play a key role in delivering worldleading research and this will only grow with deeper collaboration across sectors and the four nations of the UK. Wales will work collaboratively with all stakeholders to improve the health and well-being of the population. The UK recovery vision and plan are aligned to ‘A Healthier Wales’ strategy, whereby individuals are at the heart of transformation and modernisation of health and care services, and where research is embedded in high quality care.” Professor Kieran Walshe

Director Health and Care Research Wales

About Health and Care Research Wales

Health and Care Research Wales is supported by Welsh Government and exists to ensure that today’s research makes a difference to tomorrow’s care. This involves working strategically and practically across multiple sectors in health, social care, the third sector and industry to deliver worldclass research.

Health and Care Research Wales is a networked organisation which brings together a range of partners across the NHS in Wales, universities, research institutions, local authorities and others. It funds a community of over 20 leading research centres in Wales to support and increase capacity in research and development.

Health and Care Research Wales works to improve the speed and efficiency of study set-up and oversight as part of realising a One Wales seamless service. Involving patients, carers and the public is key to ensuring the work of Health and Care Research Wales is relevant and effective.

Find out more:

w: healthandcareresearchwales.org e: healthandcareresearch@wales.nhs.uk t: @ResearchWales / @YmchwilCymru