ABSTRACT

The aim of this paper is to outline the impact Coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 has had on health research in New Zealand. We used data from the University of Otago, Christchurch, a research intensive satellite campus of the University of Otago with a large number of research only grant funded staff to highlight challenges and opportunities. All non-COVID-19 related laboratory and clinical research was suspended under New Zealand COVID-19 alert level 4 and the majority under level 3. To date, researchers predict that 95% of research projects have been affected. During the periods of lockdown research salaries continued to be paid from grants resulting in a ‘salary gap’ to support research staff (both academic and technical). Most funders have indicated there will be no additional funding to support researchers affected by the delays. Early and mid-career researchers have been particularly affected and are currently unable to travel for post-doctoral training and networking. A more robust career structure with adequate funding, particularly for early and mid-career researchers is required to ensure that New Zealand has a stable research work force to address the next health crisis.

摘要

本文的目的是概述冠状病毒病（COVID）-19对新西兰卫生研究的影响。我们使用的是奥塔哥大学基督城奥塔哥大学的数据，奥塔哥大学是奥塔哥大学的研究密集型卫星校园，大量研究仅授予受资助的员工以突出挑战和机遇。在新西兰COVID-19警报级别4下，所有与COVID-19不相关的实验室和临床研究都被暂停，而大多数在3级之下。迄今为止，研究人员预测，已有95％的研究项目受到了影响。在封锁期间，研究人员继续从补助金中支付薪水，导致“薪金缺口”来支持研究人员（包括学术人员和技术人员）。大多数资助者表示，将没有额外的资金来支持受延误影响的研究人员。职业早期和中期的研究人员受到的影响尤其大，目前无法前往进行博士后培训和建立网络。为了确保新西兰拥有稳定的研究人员队伍来应对下一次健康危机，需要建立一个更加稳健的职业结构并提供充足的资金，特别是针对早期和中期职业研究人员。