The interdisciplinary institute SBIDERLink opens in a new window, focusses on understanding and predicting the spread and control of many infectious diseases, bringing together the latest mathematical methodology with biological understanding to generate novel insights. They are currently focussing on Covid-19. Among other projects, they are working on an intervention programme for East AfricaLink opens in a new window jointly with colleagues from the School of Life Sciences and the Department of Statistics, funded by the Wellcome Trust. The Department of StatisticsLink opens in a new window contributes estimates of the model parameters of the Covid-19 outbreak based on local and national hospital data. Some statisticians develop a stochastic model to improve the understanding of the uncertainties involved in infectious disease modelling. Led by a Warwick statistician, COVID-19 in England,Link opens in a new window improves epidemiological predictive models through calibration on daily numbers of infected and deaths (age-structured).

Warwick Statisticians also collaborate with scientists to understand the risk factors contributing to the severity of Covid-19 cases. In a joint project with the WMS (Warwick Medical School)Link opens in a new window they try to gain a better understanding the molecular biology of the virus and its interactions with humans to optimise treatment. WMS is also planning a clinical trailLink opens in a new window about optimising Covid-19 treatments for critically ill patients is under way. have been purifying the enzymes used to test patient samples. Two researchers at WMS have been purifying the enzymes used to test patient samples to overcome a bottleneckLink opens in a new window. These enzymes are in short supply globally but with a bit of know how can be made in house. Three doctors and clinical educators at University of Warwick have launchedLink opens in a new window new bedside toolLink opens in a new window to support frontline healthcare workers.

Furthermore, Warwick statisticians are leading the development of a platform to help government in tacking the Covid-19 crisis. This will provide statistical tools to compare the likely consequences not only on measurements of various wide ranging health consequences of various choices of countermeasure but also their impacts on public well being.

Warwick is also involved in an international and interdisciplinary team of researchers from twelve different academic institutions, along with IESE, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge and Oxford, among others, collecting survey data on how citizens perceive and cope with the spreading coronavirusLink opens in a new window. The Warwick GPR (Global Research Priority) FoodLink opens in a new window considers the impact of Covid-19 on the food systemLink opens in a new window. Researchers from the Warwick Business SchoolLink opens in a new window study exit strategiesLink opens in a new window, including the scenario of releasing young people from the lockdownLink opens in a new window.

The WMG (Warwick Manufacturing Group)Link opens in a new window uses their technical expertise to contribute to solving the crisis. Cyber SecurityLink opens in a new window has led a nationally representative survey of the UK population on attitudes to contact tracing applications with preliminary findings already Link opens in a new windowreleased, and one of their experts on Supply Chain and Logistics Management is currently using his skills and experience to serving as a Major in the Royal Logistics Corps (RLC) with 2 Operational Support Group support the Scottish Government and NHS Scotland with logistic planningLink opens in a new window.

Furthermore, Warwick staff and students are helping to respond to the pandemicLink opens in a new window in a variety of ways.