Four Edinburgh researchers have joined a group providing expert advice to the Scottish Government on its response to Covid-19. The four experts, all based at the University’s Usher Institute for medical research, are part of a group of scientists that provides analysis to inform Scottish Government decision making. As part of the group, Professors Andrew Morris, Aziz Sheikh, Devi Sridhar and Mark Woolhouse will seek to give MSPs the fullest possible understanding of how the virus is spreading. The new body will supplement the work of the UK Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies (SAGE), which has been advising ministers north and south of the border. Group chair Andrew Morris, Professor of Medicine at the University and Director of Health Data Research UK, will chair the Scottish advisory group. He will lead the group in analysing the impact of Covid-19 in Scotland, based on advice and modelling from SAGE, as well as other emerging scientific evidence. Key roles Professor Aziz Sheikh is a researcher in primary care and epidemiology and Director of the Usher Institute. Professor Sheikh is also Director of the Scottish Allergy and Respiratory Academy and Director of the NIHR Global Respiratory Health Unit. Devi Sridhar is Professor of Global Public Health at the Usher Institute and Founding Director of the Global Health Governance Programme. Professor Sridhar is currently advising the World Health Organisation on policy and governance. Mark Woolhouse is Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at the Usher Institute and a member of the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling. Professor Woolhouse is working with key researchers at the Usher Institute and the University’s School of Biological Sciences. He is carrying out policy-relevant analyses of the possible effects and timing of social distancing measures. Related links Scottish Government COVID-19 Advisory Group Usher Institute Image credit: © Ilya Lukichev via Getty Images Publication date 02 Apr, 2020
