COVID-19 preclinical drug development database

About us

“We have found the database really useful in the past year to see what other sorts of preclinical COVID-19-related projects were out there. It has really helped when thinking about potential collaborators and project partner organisations.”

Project holder on the database, Dr Maria McPhillips, MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research.

The COVID-19 pandemic and its wider implications affect everyone, in the UK and around the world. As the response to the COVID-19 crisis matures, attention is increasingly turning to ensuring treatments and other relevant technologies are coming through the development pipeline to help fight the virus in years to come. Here, we ask you to submit your project to keep this openly available registry of UK research programmes in preclinical drug development for COVID-19 up-to-date, relevant and useful.


This database helps researchers, funders and policy makers visualise what is happening and understand the landscape at a glance. This project aims to accelerate the development of new therapeutics, foster collaboration and communication, facilitate reagent and methodology sharing, and highlight fresh opportunities for innovative new research.


We are appealing to all those working on a pre-clinical therapeutic research project to take the time to update this database, and continue to keep it updated throughout the duration of the pandemic. We welcome and encourage contributions of a range of types from both academia and industry. We are interested in collating information on two main types of research:

  • Preclinical drug discovery and development for COVID-19, covering all modalities, mechanisms of action and therapeutic targets.
  • Supporting technologies that will inform and support drug development, including the development of assays, cell models, animal models and specialist reagents.


To find out more about the Academy of Medical Sciences and our work to support the research response to COVID-19, please visit our website.


Thank you for your participation.

Professor Michael Malim FRS FMedSci

Vice President (Non-Clinical), Academy of Medical Sciences and Head of the School of Immunology & Microbial Sciences, King’s College London


The Academy of Medical Sciences is the independent body in the UK representing the diversity of medical science. Our mission is to promote medical science and its translation into benefits for society. 

Expert advisory group

Professor Michael Malim
FRS FMedSci
Professor of Infectious Diseases and Head of School of Immunology & Microbial Sciences, King’s College London (Chair)
Professor Wendy Barclay
FMedSci
Action Medical Research Professor of Virology & Head of Department of Infectious Disease Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London
Dr David Hughes
Lecturer, University of St Andrews
Dr Melanie Lee
CBE FMedSci
Chief Executive Officer, LifeArc
Dr Gemma Nixon
Senior Lecturer in Medicinal Chemistry, University of Liverpool
Professor Massimo Palmarini
FMedSci
Director of MRC Centre for Virology Research, MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research
Dr Rab Prinjha
FMedSci
VP Head of Adaptive Immunity and Immuno-epigenetics Research Unit, GlaxoSmithKline
Professor David Stuart
FRS FMedSci
MRC Professor of Structural Biology, University of Oxford; Director, Life Sciences, Diamond Light Source; Director, Instruct-ERIC

Academy staff

Dr James Squires
Interim Head of Policy (Lead Secretariat)
Dr Anna Hands
Policy Officer
Dr Claire Cope
Head of Policy