Major cancer breakthroughs are being missed because ‘light-bulb moments’ between scientists are less likely to happen during virtual conferencing, researchers have warned.
It is feared that major advances, such as the discovery of new medicines, have been set back by 17 months due to the coronavirus pan pandemic.
A study by the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) suggests that lockdown restrictions have made it difficult to recruit patients into trials of new drugs and treatments, and to collect samples.
Academic conferences have also been cancelled and day-to-day discussion between scientists moved online, the Daily Telegraph reports.
Researchers say the lack of informal discussions means that fewer ‘lightbulb’ moments are taking place when scientists come up with unexpected ideas.
Dr Sebastian Guettler, deputy head of structural biology at the ICR, said: “The coronavirus has also reduced or stopped the spontaneous interactions with colleagues that science is so dependent on for generating new ideas.
“Video conferencing has helped us stay connected as a lab and a community, but it’s not a true replacement for those light-bulb moments you might get from chatting with someone at a conference or over coffee in the canteen.”
The body conducted a survey of 239 researchers which found that the ICR’s own research advances would be pushed back by an average of six months.