How Oxford Medical Sciences is fighting Coronavirus
Researchers from across the Medical Sciences Division are working hard to combat the COVID-19 crises. With particular strengths in infectious diseases and international health, we are well placed to contribute to better understanding and effectively controlling the epidemic. We have a long history of responding to crises, in the UK and around the world and are leaders in emergency vaccine development. During the 2014 Ebola outbreak, our scientists performed the world’s first human Ebola vaccine studies, starting them before any other university or company. Our researchers, in collaboration with partners across the globe, are working to develop an effective vaccine and drugs to target this virus, and have already introduced innovative public health measures and collaborative online tools that are being used in hospitals here and abroad.
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Coronavirus-related news from across the Medical Sciences Division
National consortium to study threats of new SARS-CoV-2 variants
18 January 2021
A new national research project to study the effects of emerging mutations in SARS-CoV-2 will be launched with £2.5 million funding from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
Why we need to test COVID-19 tests
12 January 2021
Oxford study confirms medium-term impact of COVID-19
11 January 2021
A study looking at the longer-term impact of COVID-19 has found that a significant proportion of COVID-19 patients discharged from hospital reported symptoms of breathlessness, fatigue and depression and had limited exercise capacity several weeks after leaving hospital.
Oxford’s researchers on the frontline
7 January 2021
We rightly hear a lot about Oxford’s vaccine, Covid-19 research and RECOVERY drug trials, but there are also countless personal stories, which display just how broad Oxford’s response to the pandemic has been. It is the contribution and commitment of many individuals that has enabled Oxford’s Medical Sciences Division to become a global leader.
Oxford vaccine researchers talk research and home-schooling on ITV's This Morning
7 January 2021
Professor Katie Ewer (The Jenner Institute) and Dr Maheshi Ramasamy (Oxford Vaccine Group) appeared on ITV's This Morning on Wednesday 6 January to talk about their work developing the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 coronavirus vaccine, all while juggling the demands of young families and home-schooling.
UK National Health Service begins rollout of Oxford coronavirus vaccine
4 January 2021
At 7.30 am today, dialysis patient Brian Pinker became the very first person to be vaccinated as part of the UK’s rollout of the Oxford / AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine, ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, with patients at the Oxford University NHS Hospitals Trust becoming the first to receive this life-saving vaccine.
Oxford University welcomes UK regulatory emergency use authorisation of coronavirus vaccine
30 December 2020
The University of Oxford welcomes the news that the UK Government has today accepted the recommendation from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to authorise the emergency use of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 coronavirus vaccine in the UK.
Living reviews launched by Oxford and Cardiff in the wake of COVID-19 research
18 December 2020
In a combined effort to help COVID-19 researchers the University of Oxford and Cardiff University have launched a series of “living reviews” in Oxford University Press’s new open access journal “Oxford Open Immunology”.
Oxford academics team up with charity to help disadvantaged babies & toddlers
17 December 2020
Developmental psychologists at University of Oxford and Oxford Brookes University have raised enough money to provide outdoor baby and toddler weather gear for 70 local families. The rain-sets, provided at discount by Wet Wednesdays, have been distributed by volunteers from Home-Start Oxford to disadvantaged families struggling this winter.
Find out how other parts of the University are tackling COVID-19
Researchers across the University of Oxford are at the forefront of global efforts to understand COVID-19 and protect our communities.
Support our Research
Find out how to support Oxford's coronavirus work across a number of key research areas.