Coping with the COVID-19 Pandemic’s Unique Challenges Associated with Medical Research: A Saudi Institution Approach

Abstract

The spread of COVID-19 has become a significant threat to economic activity throughout the world, and it has made life particularly difficult for research institutions. According to a report published by Spain’s largest public research body, Cybermetrics Labs, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH&RC) is ranked first among the leading hospitals in the Arab world, and it has instituted a wide range of policy changes to accommodate researchers by providing them with additional flexibility. The aim of this project was to highlight the most prevalent COVID-related global challenges facing research institutions and describe how research protocol at KFSH&RC has been adjusted to minimize the disruption experienced by its researchers.

Keywords:

• SARS-CoV-2
• COVID-19
• healthcare
• disease
• research
• virus

Ethical Consideration

This project received exemption on October 12, 2020, as no vertebrate animals or human subjects were involved or identified by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of King Faisal Specialty Hospital & Research Center (KFSH&RC), Saudi Arabia.

Author Contributions

Amani Almeharish conceptualized the study and design, drafted the manuscript. Abdullah Assiri and Areej Alfattani participated in the manuscript content. Edward De Vol critically reviewed the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. All authors made substantial contributions to conception and design, acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data; took part in drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content; agreed to submit to the current journal; gave final approval of the version to be published; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors declare that they have no competing interest.

Additional information

Funding

There is no funding to report.