Feds to fund urgent research into new coronavirus, including social impacts

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research is set to release some urgent funding to study the novel coronavirus — including the fear it causes.

The federal granting agency says it wants to better understand how the virus spreads on both a scientific and social level.

The agency suggested several possible areas of research to fund, including a look at how people understand and react to the disease.

The funding would also be available to help develop strategies to combat misinformation, stigma, and fear.

Researchers are also being encouraged to study a way to detect and monitor early cases of the virus, which has so far killed more than 600 people and infected over 31,000 worldwide.

The formal request for research proposals will be released Monday, along with the amount of money made available.

The Canadian Press