Collateral Global Launches Crowdfunder to Pay For Independent Research

Collateral Global, a newly formed U.K.-based charity dedicated to researching, understanding, and communicating the effectiveness and collateral damage of the lockdowns and associated restrictions, has launched a crowdfunder to help pay for its research.

Collateral Global is already funded entirely by public and charitable sector donations, conferring an independence which the organisation believes is vital to conducting high-quality, unbiased research. The pioneering research programme will require a full-time commitment from a highly qualified team, whose work will be made possible through Collateral Global’s crowdfunding efforts.

Key questions to be addressed by the research programme will include:

• Were the assumptions behind the response to the pandemic correct?
• Was the response proportionate?
• How effective have the responses been in achieving their objectives?
• What have the costs and knock-on effects been across the world?

The funds raised from this campaign will be spent directly on research by academics and professionals from across the world.

Carl Heneghan, Professor of Evidence-Based Medicine at Oxford University and advisor to Collateral Global, said: “Projects like Collateral Global will not receive funding from traditional research councils, which are looking to make discoveries. Collateral Global is seeking to create understanding, collate evidence and understand the wider impacts of the restrictions.”

Alex Caccia, Collateral Global CEO, who anticipates the research programme will take several years, commented: “Everyone across the world has been impacted by the pandemic, and by the global response; now is the time to analyse and understand so that we can make sense of what has happened and ensure that future responses are informed by this understanding.”

The first research paper published on the charity’s website covered the impact of the lockdown measures on cancer treatment. Future studies will cover diabetes, children’s mental health and elderly care.

You can contribute to the fundraiser here.