The story quoted tweets from Dr. Trevor Bedford, in which he noted that “The fact that we’ve observed three variants of concern emerge since September suggests that there are likely more to come.”
Drs. Pavitra Roychoudhury, Jesse Bloom and Trevor Bedford commented on efforts to track SARS-CoV-2 variants.
Dr. Trevor Bedford estimated that with a more transmissible variant, “It makes the same situations that generate spread now — people living in the same household, these sorts of non-ventilated indoor contacts — to be more likely to spread.”
Dr. Larry Corey discussed why COVID vaccine Phase 3 trials focused on finding out if the vaccines reduced severe disease and didn’t measure transmission.
Dr. Fabian Cardozo-Ojeda described the collaboration that went into utilizing models to potentially cure HIV through stem cell transplants.
Dr. Thomas Lynch described the gratification of improving lung cancer death rates in the US.
Dr. Trevor Bedford explained that the lack of flu virus genomes will make it difficult to select strains for next season’s flu vaccine.
Dr. Larry Corey commented on the limited data about whether COVID vaccines prevent transmission.
Dr. Rachel Issaka described how patients should approach at-home colon cancer tests with their doctors.
Dr. Laura Matrajt discussed her computer model that showed the benefit of administering one-dose vaccines to end the pandemic.
Allison Greaney of Dr. Jesse Bloom’s lab described their study of 4,000 SARS-CoV-2 mutations.
Dr. Jesse Bloom discussed his latest paper about coronavirus mutations and their implications for vaccine efficacy.
Kathy Alexion shared some of her top priorities for 2021 as Fred Hutch’s Chief Information Officer
Dr. Trevor Bedford predicted the SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern “to go from initial arrivals in the U.S. in December to starting to kind of dominate the virus population in, say, March.”
Research nurse Corrie Moreau described her motivation for being involved with COVID-19 therapy studies.
Infectious disease reporter Helen Branswell recalled an interview with Dr. Trevor Bedoford about SARS-CoV-2 in early 2020.