I'm tuning into this webinar about the impact of COVD19 on the medical research charity sector.
Fascinating discussion so far about how the bioscience industry is getting involved in tackling COVID19. #BIAWebinar @AMRC https://twitter.com/BIA_UK/status/1250726339637846017

Stephen Simpson from @VersusArthritis notices severe impact of COVID19 in three ways - the organisation, the people they serve, and their researchers.

People affected by arthritis in particular are noticing a lack of information and an interruption to their care.
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Much of the research they fund has been stood down. It'll take a long time after restrictions have lifted to get it back up and running.
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Stephen runs through how the services they provide have switched to being online - he finds it astonishing how an organisation of their size can adapt in this way.
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COVID19 is affecting charities in different ways, even giant charities like @CR_UK are being affected. Stephen believes there will be a longterm impact on research, incl charity-funded research, but it's hard to know exactly how.
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Stephen acknowledges the challenge of helping people who aren't able to access help online. Even the phone helpline is advertised through online channels. How do they reach vulnerable people? Something the charity is continuing to work on.
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Sine Littlewood coordinates a group in @NIHRresearch that works with charities. The wider NIHR has been involved in prioritising clinical trials for ways to tackle COVID19, and matching up with funding if needed.
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27 studies have been approved by this route so far, a mixture of pre-clinical, interventional, and observation studies.
The studies being submitted range from "just an idea" to a fully-formed 'oven-ready' protocol, ready to go.
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@Aisling68242736 from @AMRC reminds people that medical research charities contributed £1.9 BILLION into research last year - a crucial part of the research ecosystem in the UK.

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Several charities are furloughing their staff (between a third and two-thirds), and some smaller charities are effectively mothballing, without knowing whether they'll be starting again in the future.

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. @Aisling68242736 believes that the £750m charity support announced by the chancellor will not benefit many medical research charities, as many of them are not providing the kind of front-line services that are prioritised with the package.
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. @AMRC is helping members by providing guidance on their 'live blog', advocating on behalf of its members by gathering evidence on the impact and shouting loud about how its members are helping the response to COVID19, in many different ways.

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medical charities are under signficant pressure trying to support vulnerable people with longterm health conditions, AND the efforts against the pandemic - all while fundraising is declining and staff are being furloughed. It's a perfect storm, says @Aisling68242736
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