COVID-19

The research and development community across Scotland played a critical role in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic

The Chief Scientist Office (CSO) of Scottish Government, NHS Research Scotland and Health Board Research and Development Offices worked closely and in collaboration with equivalents across the UK nations to enable and deliver research into COVID-19. Through this we helped to:

• Find new treatments for COVID-19 
• Develop vaccines and prevention 
• Inform policy and decision-making 
• Evaluate tests and diagnostics 
• Support the global response to the pandemic 

In Scotland, across the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) official pandemic timeline (11 March 2020 – 5 May 2023):

• 53,000 participants took part in 201 COVID-19 research studies; with 28,400 participating in over 38 urgent public health (UPH) COVID-19 research studies; and 24,600 in 163 other COVID-19 research studies
• The Office for National Statistics Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey, a UK-wide survey, had 42,300 participants in Scotland
• REACT-2, a UK wide coronavirus antibody study, had 79,996 participants in Scotland
• All data correct as of 10 July 2023

Public health research into COVID-19 continues. More information on how to get involved in health research can be found in our Public section.