Midlands Universities supporting the fight against COVID-19

About Us

Midlands Innovation (a partnership of the Universities of Aston, Birmingham, Cranfield, Keele, Leicester, Loughborough, Nottingham and Warwick) responded incredibly quickly to support the Government, NHS, frontline services and communities at this time. 

99 COVID-19 research programmes have been launched by

 Midlands Innovation since May 2020 which will shape how the UK recovers from the pandemic. Read more

Our partnership’s motto is ‘Together we are Stronger” it represents who we are, it’s what we stand for, and it drives our collaborative efforts. Those few words are never truer, not only for our partnership, but also for our country and the world at the moment.

Professor Trevor McMillan, Chair of Midlands Innovation and Vice-Chancellor of Keele University

Covid-19 report cover graphic

“Mobilising Research Excellence in the Midlands to Tackle COVID-19”

Midlands Innovation Health, a partnership of the seven research intensive Medical and Healthcare Universities in the Midlands (Aston, Keele and Loughborough Universities and the Universities of Leicester, Nottingham and Warwick), together with the Midlands Health Alliance and Medilink Midlands, published a joint report to highlight the region’s research excellence to support national COVID-19 pandemic efforts.

Read more here 
Download the Report here
Download the Summary Brochure here
Watch the recordings from the Report Launch here

Watch a short video highlighting key COVID research outcomes produced by the region in 2020 and where the Midlands can lead and support COVID19 research efforts going forward.


Alex Wilkinson Media

Press Releases about our partners’ responses to COVID-19

Our press releases summarise just some of the responses by Midlands Innovation universities to the COVID-19 crisis and the response by other partners in the Midlands:

The Midlands is delivering nearly £100m of COVID research – 15th January 2021
Minister hears how business and university leaders can support economic recovery – 20th September 2020
MI universities awarded over £20m of COVID19 research funding – 28th August 2020
MI universities help businesses with COVID recovery – 30th July 2020
Research excellence mobilised to fight COVID19 – 11th May 2020
Supporting communities during the COVID19 crisis – 21st April 2020
Midlands Innovation universities supporting the fight against COVID19 – 30th March 2020

Sign up for the Midlands Innovation e-newsletter

As well as following the updates on twitter, you can sign up to receive a regular eNewsletter with updates from Midlands Innovation which will highlight what partners are doing to support efforts to fight the coronavirus, and other initiatives we’ll be undertaking in the future. You can also follow us on Twitter @InnovationMids.

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Find out more about the help being provided by our universities

These are some of the numerous ways in which the Midlands Innovation partnership contributed to the national effort against COVID-19.

Aston University
Resources and People Power
COVID-19 and self-employment in the UK – ERC insight paper
Helping people get through it
Supporting students
Expert advice for businesses dealing with COVID-19
Rising to the challenge of COVID19

University of Birmingham
Developing surface treatments for long lasting protection against COVID
Research developments and news
Birmingham supports the fight against COVID19

Cranfield University
Coronavirus information

Keele University
Joining the national effort to fight COVID19
Response to COVID19

Donating lab supplies to help

University of Leicester
Our COVID19 story
Advice for students, staff and visitors
Answering the nation’s need for volunteers
New approach to coronavirus testing

Loughborough University
Our response to COVID19
The coronavirus clock

University of Nottingham
Response to COVID19
600 medical students have volunteered
Final year medical students have graduated early

University of Warwick
National clinical trial to treat patients with COVID19
Coronavirus guidance
Five ways Warwick staff and students are helping the fight