Paediatric research in the times of COVID-19

Research Fellow Dr Charles Roehr and colleagues from the National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit Clinical Trials Unit of the Nuffield Department of Population Health and the RECOVERY trial paediatric study group have published a new ‘viewpoint’ on the future of research in the area after the current pandemic in the journal Pediatric Research. The opinion piece was honoured as the Editor’s Highlight of the month of July 2021.

In their paper, Charles and his co-authors make the point that in order to achieve better outcomes for children’s healthcare research in the future, ever stronger international networks and collaborations will be needed. Based on the immense international collaborative efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, these networks need to be expanded and fostered.

The authors clearly state that paediatric researchers must continue to raise the profile of their research, to streamline research design and approvals and to create new relationships and ways of working with industry to allow fast and pragmatic deployment of research to address the ever-important health needs of children.

In doing so, the positive outcomes learned during this pandemic can create a better platform for children’s research in the future.

Read the full viewpoint in Pediatric Research