Former EU chief science adviser Anne Glover discusses the UK’s handling of the COVID-19 epidemic and if the European Commission is lacking scientific leadership during the crisis

Meetings cancelled, workers sent home, conferences postponed as EU officials and lobbyists try to cope with the pandemic

EU president Charles Michel says there is ‘strong common will’ between G7 countries to deliver coronavirus vaccine, following reports of big-money overture by president Trump to CureVac

Early stage human trials for vaccine against the virus are ‘days or weeks’ away, but it will take at least 12 – 18 months to complete safety and efficacy tests, and much more money is needed

All universities in Italy, Greece, Denmark, Poland, Ireland and Hungary are closed down, as EU education and research ministers meet online to discuss coordinated response

Governments around the world announce new grant funds for researchers in vaccines, treatments, diagnostics or social support

Universities are relying on digital technologies to keep operating and carry on teaching, while researchers are postponing field work and meetings, as Italian government places entire country under quarantine

Pierre Meulien, director of the Innovative Medicines Initiative wants to see pooling of international research efforts to help curb the spread of COVID-19 and develop treatments for the respiratory infection it causes

The European Commission boosts research funding and selects 17 projects in vaccine development, treatment and diagnostics

Experience from previous health crises shows it takes some time for EU research programmes to produce outcomes