COVID-19 has caused the worst global pandemic in living memory affecting the lives of nearly everyone in some way. This requires us in the NHS to deliver not only excellent clinical care in the most challenging of environments, but world-class science. Science to understand why some people die and others are asymptomatic. Science to find targets for drug treatments. And science to try to help avoid such a pandemic in the future.

Barts Health (in collaboration with UCL and QMUL) is leading a research consortium to better understand COVID-19. We know that nearly 1 in 10 of Italy's infections have been in healthcare workers, and the majority of our workforce will be infected. We are creating a biorepository of data and blood samples from our staff before, during and after exposure to the disease. This will generate over 200,000 samples that will be shared with the UK's leading research groups to try to deliver answers to some of the most pressing questions. 

Crucially the time to do this science is now but we need funding to deliver this. Currently UK science labs are shut. We need to get them 

open and give them the samples to get to work. 

We fully understand the pressures on everybody at the moment, but this is an opportunity to help front-line staff and to deliver research that will provide important insights into the disease and how to prevent it.

More information about our effort can be found in our YouTube video (opens in new tab).

To discuss alternative ways to make a donation, please email Barts Charity on hello@bartscharity.org.uk and mention Charlotte Manisty 

020 7618 1720  

Links to media coverage and articles

Channel 4 coverage
BMJ Article
Nursing Times Article
BMJ podcast with Dr Charlotte Manisty