How to be a cancer researcher in the time of coronavirus

With many parts of the world adjusting to new ways of working due to COVID-19, the cancer research community is reacting and adapting.

We’ve compiled a list of useful online resources for our members and researchers who are adjusting to new ways of working. It includes articles and advice on how to work from home successfully, remote learning, adjusting to research outside of the lab, websites, tools, webinars and podcasts. 

Even if we can’t meet in person, there is a great deal we can still learn from each other. If you have a suggestion for a link to add to this page, please email it to ben.garrett@eacr.org. 

Conferences, Networking and Collaboration

“A year without conferences? How the coronavirus pandemic could change research” - Article in Nature on how you can adapt to a potential year of no conferences.
“Coronavirus And Your Career: How To Effectively Network During A Quarantine” – Forbes 
“Find a Cancer Research Collaboration” – our own online tool that helps put EACR members in touch with others who could be potential collaborators
EACR Virtual Conferences and Webinars – click here to see our upcoming conferences and webinars

Adjusting to working away from your lab or institute

How to be a cancer researcher during coronavirus - Articles in the EACR's online magazine, The Cancer Researcher, from our members who have submitted their experiences and advice
“Coronavirus lockdown: What I learnt when I shut my cancer lab in 48 hours” – Article in Nature from EACR President Alberto Bardelli on the lessons he learned when he had to shut his lab down, and his advice for science when in lockdown
“Working from home because of COVID-19? Here are 10 ways to spend your time” - Science Magazine
“My lab group met to chart our response to COVID-19. Here’s what we learned” - Science Magazine
“Five tips for moving teaching online as COVID-19 takes hold” - Nature Careers
“During a pandemic, Isaac Newton had to work from home, too. He used the time wisely.” - Washington Post
“How institutions are approaching scientific research during COVID-19, and what they still need to know.”  - Inside Higher Ed
“How to stay productive and effective as young researchers during the Covid-19 pandemic” - The European SocieTy for Radiotherapy and Oncology
“Labs go quiet as researchers brace for long-term coronavirus disruptions” - Science Magazine reports on different individual researchers and how the situation has affected their research
"The Unique Dangers Posed by #COVID19 Phishing Scams" - a warning in Infosecurity Magazine about the increase in phishing scams, to which working in isolation can make you vulnerable
Some Advice for PhD Students and Their Mentors in the Time of Coronavirus – Dynamic Ecology blog
"Safely conducting essential research in the face of COVID-19"  - Nature

Mental health & work-life balance

Coronavirus & your wellbeing - Mind
Coronavirus: How to protect your mental health - BBC
“‘It’s OK to feel anxious.’ How a professor in China faced coronavirus disruptions and fears” - Science Magazine
How Remote Teams Can Connect Meaningfully – a YouTube video from author and motivational speaker Simon Sinek on how his large team connects using a structured weekly video conference call
(Re)Balancing Personal & Professional Life In Lockdown - Forbes

Research funding and policy

Open letter to cancer researchers – the response to COVID-19 from funder Cancer Research UK

Webinars, podcasts and other resources

“How are Molecular Imaging Labs reacting to COVID-19?” Recording of a webinar by the World Molecular Imaging Society
'Stay Connected' Learning Centre - methods, applications, webinars and e-learning by ThermoFisher
Webinars & Videos - Menarini Silicon Biosystems
Multianalyte studies of liquid biopsies, podcasts, science talks, a Quick-Start Workflow and more - learn about the QIAGEN Cancer Research Community.
Epigenetics Resources: Infographic & Podcast | Article - Illumina
Single Cell Resources: Infographic & Podcast | Article - Illumina
‘Inactivation of DNA repair and high dose Vitamin C boost cancer immunotherapy’ plus Q&A on ‘Being a researcher in the time of COVID-19’ - Alberto Bardelli

Resources for Medical Oncologists

COVID-19 & Cancer - resources from ESMO
COVID-19 and Cancer: Useful resources – ecancer
COVID-19 articles – ASCO Daily News
Coronavirus Information and Resources for patients and caregivers - AACR
Caring for patients with cancer in the COVID-19 era - Nature Medicine
The impact of COVID-19 on Oncology Professionals (Survey) - ESMO Resilience Task Force

General resources about the novel coronavirus

LitCovid – a database of open access articles about COVID-19 in case you want to keep up to date on the latest research or start a collaboration.
EU Coronavirus Response – updates and articles and what the EU is doing in response
European Respiratory Society – COVID-19 resources and information for healthcare professionals. 
Coronavirus Resource Centre - The Lancet
John Hopkins “Public Health on Call” - a podcast currently focusing on coronavirus
The Nocturnists - collection of audio diaries from people working on the front line and their experiences.
“Coronapod” - Nature Podcast
Advice, technical protocols for clinical trials, research, etc. - World Health Organisation
COVID-19 Information Centre - Elsevier

Got a suggestion?

If you have a suggestion for a link to add to this page, please email it to ben.garrett@eacr.org.

Disclaimer: We are not responsible for nor do we endorse the content of the external links.