Our current funding calls remain open and we will try our best to keep to our timelines and decision dates as far as possible. However, we are closely monitoring developments related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the guidance from government bodies, and safeguarding the health of our researchers, reviewers and committees is our priority.

If you’re a researcher funded by us, to help minimise the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ll provide the following flexibility and support.

For research staff, we mandate, as a condition of funding, that your Host Institution bear the costs of your paid leave entitlements consistent with its own employment policies.

We’ll follow the policy of your Host Institution for any staff on a grant who:

• Are unwell
• Need to self-isolate
• Have caring responsibilities for someone affected.

We are aware that clinical academics and research nurses are and may be seconded back to the NHS to support front line service delivery. Wellbeing of Women will fully support this request; the urgent care of patients comes first and you can return to clinical practice if required. The exceptions would be in those situations where there would be a duty of care for patients on certain clinical trials. Such decisions must be made locally.

For clinical academics seconded back to the NHS, our expectation is that the NHS will cover your salary whilst working on the COVID-19 response. You can then request a no-cost extension to your grant.

For other grants which may be affected (for example, if your institution closes), we will look to minimise the impact on our funded research activities wherever possible. We will offer increased flexibility across our grants to enable you to manage your award, including delaying start dates of newly awarded grants where necessary.

We will be flexible on the use of underspend and budget virements to cover any exceptional and additional costs incurred by the COVID-19 pandemic to keep your research activities going.

Our default position will be to offer you a no-cost extension if needed. No-cost extension requests should be made in writing to us.

For queries on the above, or anything else related to your grant, please do not hesitate to contact us and keep us informed as best as possible of your changing situation. We will do our best to support you in these difficult times.

- The Wellbeing of Women Team.

Updated 24 March 2020