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Cancer discoveries are being missed because “moments of light” among scientists are less likely during virtual conferences, experts warned.
A study from the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) estimated that major advances, such as drug discovery, have been delayed for 17 months due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The restrictions have made it difficult to recruit patients into trials of new drugs and treatments and collect samples, according to a report.
Meanwhile, academic conferences have been canceled and daily discussions between scientists have been moved online.
As the research community is adapting to the pandemic, many of the big moments of the discovery come as a result of informal discussions, according to the ICR.
Dr Sebastian Guettler, deputy chief of structural biology at the ICR, said: ‘The coronavirus has also reduced or disrupted the spontaneous interactions with colleagues on which science depends so much to generate new ideas.
“Videoconferencing has helped us stay connected as a laboratory and community, but it’s not a real substitute for those bright moments you might get by chatting with someone at a conference or over coffee in the canteen.”
The body conducted a survey of 239 researchers which found that ICR research progress would be delayed by an average of six months.
It also estimated that, taking into account the wider effects on charitable funding and other factors, major advances in cancer research could be delayed by an average of 17 months.
Those who took part in the survey said they lost an average of 10 weeks of search time due to the first block.
The majority also said the virus had an effect on their work and more than a third described the effect as “substantial”.
The biggest problem, according to 90% of respondents, was the closure of the workshops in the first block and restrictions on access to facilities and equipment.
The average ICR researcher spent more than half of their working time in a lab before the lockdown, but this dropped to just 5% during closure and has since fallen back to around a third, the survey showed.
Professor Paul Workman, chief executive of the ICR, said: ‘It is worrying to see that our researchers estimate that their research progress will be delayed by six months and that the wider impact is likely, due to interconnectedness. of science supporting major advances for nearly a year and a half patients.
“Our survey, however, provides solutions to mitigate the impact, in the form of investments in people, new technologies and computing power.
“For this, we need more of the generous donations we have received for our emergency appeal, along with the government’s commitment to help fill the life science funding gap left by the pandemic.”
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