“All research and clinical trials not related to COVID-19 have recently been either suspended or cancelled” as a result of an immediate funding crunch in the key sector, the letter sent Thursday says. HealthCareCan did a rapid survey of 24 Canadian health research institutes and said they expect to lose almost $500 million over the next six months, a figure it says is likely an underestimate. YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN...“This decision will have catastrophic implications for Canada’s capacity to respond to COVID-19, and for Canada’s health research sector more generally,” says the letter, signed by 26 research leaders at dozens of hospital centres. The Liberal government has provided money for research into COVID-19 testing, treatments and vaccine, but Morneau’s office acknowledged many researchers not working on COVID-19 “have had their research disrupted by the pandemic. “To support these individuals, some researchers have received one additional year of funding, while other researchers have been granted one extra year to use their existing research funds.

Source: thestar April 10, 2020 22:07 UTC