Irish patients are to take part in a coronavirus clinical trial as part of global research efforts to tackle the pandemic.
The Health Research Board says it is mobilising "rapid support" for a clinical trial among Irish patients in Intensive Care Units.
The trial will start enrolling COVID-19 patients from now, and will test interventions for coronavirus in critically ill patients.
Alistair Nichol, a UCD Professor and intensive care consultant at St Vincent's University Hospital is leading the trial and says it's the safest way to see if a treatment works.
"Our current treatments are supportive care, and that is the high quality nursing and doctor care that people get every day in Ireland.
"But there's been a whole load of treatments which have been suggested which may be beneficial or not.
"We are going to conduct trials to see which treatments are the most effective.
"A trial is the safest way to assess if a treatment works, in someone who is unwell with the disease."
