What were the lessons from Covid-19?
2 August 2023
Three years on from the height of the pandemic this podcast hosted by Alliance Manchester Business School explores the lessons learnt from Protect, a major UK government study into the transmission of the Covid-19 virus and the wider UK research programme around Covid-19.
Debating the findings of the nationwide study are Professor David Fishwick, Chief Medical Advisor at Health and Safety Executive and Work and Health Theme Lead for the Thomas Ashton Institute (TAI), Sheena Johnson, Professor of Work Psychology and Wellbeing at Alliance Manchester Business School and one of the leads for the TAI's workplace violence and aggression research network, and Martie Van Tongeren, Professor of Occupational and Environmental Health at The University of Manchester, and TAI Satellite Lead.
The PROTECT National Core Study on transmission and environment began in October 2020, as part of the COVID-19 National Core Studies programme spearheaded by Sir Patrick Vallance. It was made up of six themes that used a complementary variety of research methods and scientific disciplines to address the research questions from different angles - including microbiology, building science, behavioural science and mathematical modelling - to ensure findings are turned into practical tools and advice for policymakers.
The Thomas Ashton Institute was instrumental in bringing together more than 70 researchers from 16 institutions across the UK. The study was funded by HM Treasury until March 2023, with the final year focused on making findings more accessible and ensuring the programme's legacy for future pandemic preparedness and the ongoing management of endemic respiratory diseases.