Strengthening & Accelerating the Global Research Response to COVID-19 by Sharing Methods and Knowledge Between Countries, Networks and Organisations

This COVID-19 Rapid Response award is funded (100%) by the National Institute for Health Research but was part of a joint call between the MRC and the National Institute for Health Research. A Public Health Emergency was declared for COVID-19 to galvanize global collaboration to support less resources nations; this must include research to address the unknowns and ensure equity in who benefits from findings and interventions. We propose to further develop a proven mechanism for supporting locally-led evidence generation by facilitating knowledge sharing between all the networks and getting information and support to where research capacity is low. During the Ebola and Zika outbreak The Global Health Network served an important role in delivering and sharing trusted research tools, guidance and training which facilitated faster, standardised quality data capture. Beyond these outbreaks we have been working with our partners to create lasting research networks to support evidence generation in challenging settings. Here we will take our experience and add new innovative technology to make highly targeted information, tools and resources discoverable and support rapid implementation of new knowledge as this outbreak evolves. Our global partners are asking for such a mechanism, and here we can use the platform, our community, technolology and expertise to address the immediate need for global sharing and research support at this crucial point. What we learn here can then be applied to future outbreaks.