TY - JOUR T1 - A new model for clinical trials to address the COVID-19 emergency JF - Breathe JO - Breathe DO - 10.1183/20734735.0220-2020 VL - 16 IS - 2 SP - 200220 AU - Guy B. Marks Y1 - 2020/06/01 UR - http://breathe.ersjournals.com/content/16/2/200220.abstract N2 - The COVID-19 pandemic represents the most serious health and economic catastrophe in our lifetimes. The heartfelt and urgent call to arms from Epelbaum and Galperin [1] in this issue of Breathe reflects the harsh reality for those on the frontline: the medical imperative to make decisions in the context of imperfect information. One of the unique features of this crisis is that we are dealing with a novel coronavirus. We are starting from a blank sheet in terms of empirical data on which to base decisions about interventions for prevention and treatment. Clinicians need to make the best use of the imperfect information at the bedside. However, this is not the end of the story; indeed, it is the beginning. In history, now and in the future, research has been, and is, the method we use to acquire knowledge and knowledge is the key to effective action to solve clinical problems. Research is the key to solving the COVID-19 emergency.Special features of the #COVID19 pandemic mean that the several aspects of the usual approach to research are not fit for purpose https://bit.ly/32JyZr9I acknowledge helpful comments by Kerrie Mengersen (Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia), Ben Marais, Thomas Snelling (both University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia) and Jennifer Martin (University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia) on an earlier version of this manuscript. ER -