COVID-19 Timeline
Playing a pivotal role
On Feb. 11, 2020, the World Health Organization gave names to the virus, SARS-CoV-2, and the disease it causes, COVID-19. Fred Hutch scientists had already been tracking the novel coronavirus and working to understand, predict and prepare for what might be ahead. Three weeks later, Hutch leadership activated a mandatory remote work policy as the Seattle area became one of the first U.S. regions impacted by the outbreak.
The scientific response was in full swing at that point, with projects and programs launched almost daily to address the crisis and develop a way to end it. Over the last year, the scale of research has been broad, drawing on top experts as well as early career scientists who applied existing efforts to produce a remarkable volume of papers, preprints and insights about the virus and disease.
This timeline highlights some of the key efforts by Hutch researchers in the COVID-19 response — not just the science, but also the work to share those insights to help people navigate the pandemic.
December 1, 2021-
What Hutch coronavirus experts are saying about omicron
Drs. Trevor Bedford, Jesse Bloom, Larry Corey, Joshua Schiffer and other Fred Hutch experts talk to media outlets across the country on the emergence, spread, immune escape and impact of the new omicron variant, which is surging across the globe. They recommend that everyone get vaccinated or boosted if eligible and use masks and distancing to protect each other and save hospital capacity.
Hutch News
December 1, 2021
The COVID cancer effect
Kathy Briant and Dr. Rachel Issaka discussed how the pandemic has reduced cancer screenings.
Scientific American
NOVEMBER 21, 2021
Treatments will change the pandemic, but they can’t end it alone
Dr. Larry Corey reflected on how COVID-19 will change our response to respiratory illnesses.
Washington Post
NOVEMBER 18, 2021
The pandemic’s next turn hinges on three unknowns
Dr. Elizabeth Halloran commented on COVID-19 immunity in the U.S.
The Atlantic
OCTOBER 20, 2021
What to know about your risk of a serious or fatal breakthrough COVID infection
Dr. Rachel Bender Ignacio provided perspective on breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infections.
NPR
OCTOBER 12, 2021
What the future may hold for the coronavirus and us
Dr. Jesse Bloom explained how SARS-CoV-2 has changed.
New York Times
OCTOBER 1, 2021
Merck COVID drug studied at Fred Hutch
Dr. Rachel Bender Ignacio characterized clinical trial results for molnupiravir.
KIRO-TV
SEPTEMBER 24, 2021
A daily pill to treat COVID could be just months away, scientists say
Dr. Elizabeth Duke spoke about the promise of an oral antiviral to treat and even prevent COVID-19.
Kaiser Health News
SEPTEMBER 17, 2021
Long-haul COVID-19 can last months. But here’s why experts are optimistic about recovery.
Joel D. Meyers Endowed Chair holder Dr. Julie McElrath and collaborators from the Allen Institute discussed research in immune response and understanding long-haul COVID-19.
USA Today
SEPTEMBER 7, 2021
United States boosts tracking of coronavirus strains as Mu variant draws scrutiny
Dr. Trevor Bedford commented on the volume of COVID-19 virus genomes now available in the U.S.
Science
AUGUST 23, 2021
New evidence points to antibodies as a reliable indicator of vaccine protection
Researchers report that higher levels of neutralizing antibodies are associated with higher levels of vaccine efficacy, suggesting that giving people a booster vaccine, which has been shown to raise antibody levels, would go a long way toward protecting them against the coronavirus, including some of the newer and more dangerous variants.
NPR
AUGUST 11, 2021
How will the coronavirus evolve?
Researchers like Dr. Tyler Starr study how the coronavirus might evolve in the future, and what that might mean for immunity and for our ability to control the virus.
The New Yorker
AUGUST 8, 2021
‘Goldilocks virus’: Delta vanquishes all variant rivals as scientists race to understand its tricks
The coronavirus pandemic in America has become a delta pandemic. By the end of July 2021, the delta variant accounts for 93.4% of new infections. Dr. Trevor Bedford says that the virus can’t keep evolving to become more transmissible forever. Eventually, it will hit a ceiling, “but it’s not exactly clear what that is.”
Washington Post
JUNE 23, 2021
Scientist finds early virus sequences that had been mysteriously deleted
By rooting through files stored on Google Cloud, Dr. Jesse Bloom says he recovered 13 early coronavirus sequences that had disappeared from a database in summer 2020 — intriguing new information for discerning when and how the virus may have spilled over from a bat or another animal into humans.
New York Times
JUNE 20, 2021
Study testing Moderna vaccine in transmission prevention to include young adults
U.S. scientists expand a government-funded study that aims to directly answer the question of whether Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine curbs the spread of SARS-CoV-2. "If our study demonstrates that a COVID-19 vaccine works to prevent infection and transmission of the virus, many more people may decide to get vaccinated, which has huge public health implications," said Dr. Larry Corey.
Reuters
MAY 13, 2021
Lab accident or jump from animals? Hutch virus expert calls for a new probe of COVID-19 origins
In a letter published in the journal Science, Dr. Jesse Bloom and 17 other scientists say so many unanswered questions remain that it’s impossible to rule out either of the leading theories for the origins of the virus that causes COVID-19: that the virus spilled over naturally from animals, or that it was released in a lab accident in Wuhan, China.
Seattle Times
MAY 4, 2021
Meet the Seattle doctor who Dr. Fauci trusted to help develop COVID-19 vaccines
In an interview, Dr. Anthony Fauci sits down with his friend and colleague Dr. Larry Corey of Fred Hutch.
KING 5 News
APRIL 28, 2021
New Blood Tests Should Show How Long A COVID-19 Vaccine Will Protect You
Dr. Peter Gilbert discussed studies of what immune responses protect against COVID-19.
NPR
APRIL 22, 2021
Scientists work on boosters to deal with the possibility that current COVID-19 vaccines may eventually wear off — or the virus will mutate in ways that will evade the vaccine's protections. Dr. Peter Gilbert discusses how to test vaccine protection.
NPR
MARCH 26, 2021
Unlocking the COVID code
Rapid advances in the viral genomics field are crucial in advancing understanding of the disease and informing the response. Dr. Trevor Bedford outlines these changes and how much they increased over the year of the pandemic.
New York Times
FEBRUARY 17, 2021
C.D.C. Announces $200 Million to Track Virus Variants
Trevor Bedford says there have been gains in recent months but more data - and analysis is needed.
New York Times
FEBRUARY 8, 2021
Initial insights from research led by Drs. Leo Stamatatos, Andy McGuire and Julie McElrath examines the issue of effects of a single dose of a COVID vaccine on people who were previously infected with SARS-CoV-2.
medRxiv
FEBRUARY 7, 2021
Trials of potential treatments continue at the COVID-19 Clinical Research Center to ensure the disease becomes "an infection that we can live with."
-Rachel Bender Ignacio quoted
in The Wall Street Journal
FEBRUARY 3, 2021
Amid fears of new, more transmissible variants of SARS-CoV-2, Dr. Josh Schiffer's team develop a mathematical model to inform efforts to prevent a possible fourth wave.
GeekWire
JANUARY 29, 2021
Johnson & Johnson’s Vaccine Offers Strong Protection but Fuels Concern About Variants
The New York Times
JANUARY 22,2020
NCCN shares new guidance for COVID-19 vaccines in cancer patients (PDF)
National Comprehensive Cancer Network
JANUARY 21, 2021
Dr. Pergam acknowledges in a tweet the 1 year anniversary of the 1st COVID-19 patient diagnosed in the US and takes a moment of silence to honor.
JANUARY 14, 2021
Dr. Trevor Bedford shares a Twitter thread regarding the SARS-CoV-2 variants.
JANUARY 13, 2021
Drs. Steve Pergam and Josh Schiffer joined Reuters in a Twitter chat to discuss vaccines.
DECEMBER 24, 2020
Dr. Larry Corey receives the COVID-19 Pfizer vaccination, December 24, 2020 at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. Corey was asked by Dr. Anthony Fauci several months ago to coordinate the national vaccine trials effort.
DECEMBER 22, 2020
Dr. Trevor Bedford shares a twitter thread on his thoughts about antigenic drift of Covid-19 over the holidays.
DECEMBER 21,2020
Fred Hutch shares the first selfie photos of team members getting their vaccines.
DECEMBER 16, 2020
Vaccines stop COVID-19 symptoms, but do they stop transmission?
As the initial vaccines rollout, Hutch researchers turn their focus to understanding whether these new shots not only protect individuals from disease, but also prevent them from transmitting the coronavirus to others.
Hutch News
DECEMBER 10, 2020
Advances in blood disorders research continue despite COVID-19
Expanding use of CAR T-cell therapies, gene editing lead to insights at virtual annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology
Hutch News
DECEMBER 2, 2020
Dr. Stephanie Lee leads the first-ever virtual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, as their president. The meeting highlights COVID-19 efforts, including a conversation between Dr. Anthony Fauci and Lee. She shares a tweet of how her virtual ASH setup looked like.
DECEMBER 2,2020
Two mRNA vaccines show efficacy
STAT
And both receive Emergency Use Authorizations by the FDA:
Press Release, December 11, 2020
Press Release, December 18, 2020
NOVEMBER 23, 2020
Fred Hutch partners with Alaska Airlines for Rising to the Challenges of a Pandemic: A conversation with Experts in a tweet here.
NOVEMBER 1, 2020
Trevor Bedford shared a twitter thread about the viral genomes of two SARS-CoV-2 infections that were connected to the White House Covid-19 outbreak.
OCTOBER 27, 2020
Stamatatos/McGuire/Pancera have continued to illuminate the immune response against the coronavirus, even using X-ray crystallography to map the nanoscale structure of the antibody blocking the coronavirus spike.
Hutch News
OCTOBER 19, 2020
Trevor Bedford tweets his thoughts about how case counts through time correlate across different states.
OCTOBER 5, 2020
Patrick Quinn of KOMO tweeted behind the scenes photos from the new COVID-19 Clinical Research Center.
OCTOBER 5, 2020
Fred Hutch opens COVID-19 Clinical Research Center
Newly renovated facility is among the first stand-alone centers specifically designed to test novel interventions such as monoclonal antibodies and antivirals to treat and prevent COVID-19
Hutch News
September 2020
Vaccine trials are in full swing as researchers made a concerted effort to recruit participants from traditionally underserved communities.
SEPTEMBER 15, 2020
Public health’s pandemic pivot
With disease modeling, virtual events and a renewed focus on antiracism, Fred Hutch population scientists adapt their work to COVID-19
Hutch News
SEPTEMBER 8, 2020
New ads encourage minorities to roll up their sleeves and participate in coronavirus vaccine trials
CoVPN launched its ad campaign.
CNN
SEPTEMBER 2, 2020
Why volunteer for a vaccine trial? Duty, love and a willingness to experiment, participants say
Fred Hutch staff running operations and community engagement for the COVID-19 Prevention Network encouraged people to consider joining a Phase 3 vaccine trial.
Usa Today
August 2020
Hutch researchers dig into how mutations of the spike protein on the coronavirus might change its behavior.
AUGUST 13, 2020
What happens if the coronavirus’s spikes mutate?
Study explores how changes in the virus’s ‘lock picks’ could help or hinder its ability to sneak into our cells.
Hutch News
July 2020
The CoVPN is launched to speed vaccine trials as the virus begins to spread more widely in younger populations.
JULY 24, 2020
The latest on how COVID-19 affects cancer patients
Hutch researchers share new data on mortality rates and racial disparities in treatment; launch statewide COVID-19 and cancer data repository
Hutch News
JULY 8, 2020
Fred Hutch named the coordinating center for vaccine clinical trials of the COVID-19 Prevention Network
New clinical trials network will evaluate vaccines and antibodies to prevent COVID-19
Hutch News
June 2020
Researchers focused on improving testing and potential treatments for the disease as vaccines were still believed to be a long way off.
JUNE 29, 2020
Jesse Bloom and team led an effort to understand how a part of the spike protein on the coronavirus called the receptor-binding domain, or RBD, binds to a molecule called ACE2 on human cells to let the virus slip inside. - First published in June on bioRxiv, updated and published in Cell in Aug.
Hutch News
JUNE 10, 2020
Seattle’s coronavirus surveillance program resumes after being shut down by the FDA
The greater Seattle area Coronavirus Assessment Network (SCAN), a partnership between Fred Hutch, UW Medicine, Seattle Children’s, the Institute for Disease Modeling, Public Health—Seattle & King County and Gates Ventures to track coronavirus cases in the region, was cleared to resume enrolling local volunteers.
The Seattle Times
JUNE 4, 2020
COVID-19 and cancer expose society’s health care gaps
Fred Hutch researchers work to disrupt health disparities and misinformation as coronavirus ravages the medically underserved
Hutch News
May 2020
The reality that the pandemic wouldn't end quickly led to policy changes and summer cancellations while researchers stretched the limits of disease modeling.
MAY 28, 2020
What happens when cancer patients get COVID-19?
CCC-19 Covid & Cancer Consortium publishes first large observational study of 1K patients.
Hutch News
MAY 22, 2020
Exclusive: US plans massive coronavirus vaccine testing effort to meet year-end deadline
Larry Corey, and Drs. Francis Collins and Tony Fauci outlined their strategy to run multiple, large-scale clinical trials to test potential COVID vaccines for safety and efficacy.
Reuters
MAY 20, 2020
What computer-based models can tell us about coronavirus — and what they can’t
Dr. Elizabeth Halloran explained how we can use COVID-19 models to our advantage, and her recent modeling work and some of the caveats of model predictions.
PBS
MAY 19, 2020
Fred Hutch Obliteride changes gears, shifts to individual events for 2020
Obliteride goes global to accelerate cancer and COVID-19 research
Hutch News
MAY 13, 2020
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic some scientists bring the bench home
Steven Heinkoff explained his at home CUT&Tag protocol and how he was able to bring his lab work home.
The Scientist
MAY 11, 2020
Larry Corey and NIH, NIAID leaders lay out strategy for developing vaccines, in Science
Fred Hutch News Release
MAY 8, 2020
How Fred Hutch is using science to get back to doing science
Fred Hutch implements dial-based approach guided by research and science-based strategies for adjusting the on-campus density.
Hutch News
April 2020
New programs launched to monitor front-line workers and help researchers better understand how the disease spread.
APRIL 15, 2020
Another sign the curve is bending: positive coronavirus tests at UW peaked March 28
Larry Corey and researchers at UW released an analysis showing that the proportion of positive coronavirus diagnostic tests began waning after March 28, evidence that social distancing was bending the curve locally.
The Seattle Times
APRIL 2, 2020
Hutch team hunts for coronavirus antibodies
Drs. Leo Stamatatos, Andrew McGuire and Marie Pancera focused on which of the tiny, Y-shaped immune proteins in our blood called antibodies are most effective at fighting SARS-CoV-2.
Hutch News
March 2020
The Seattle area became an epicenter for the U.S. outbreak. A mandatory remote work policy forced researchers figured out how to continue their efforts from home.
MARCH 31, 2020
The COVID-19 and Cancer Consortium launches
A new crowdsourced registry of cancer patients with COVID19 – with Gary Lyman as a founding member – international registry to track and study covid in cancer patients.
MARCH 23, 2020
Seattle Coronavirus Assessment Network launches with boost from Bill Gates, Amazon and volunteers
Seattle Flu Study partner organizations, including Fred Hutch, officially launched the greater Seattle Coronavirus Assessment Network, a regional surveillance system to do at-home testing of volunteers for SARS-CoV-2 infection.
GeekWire
MARCH 21, 2020
How the virus got out
Trevor Bedford and Dr. Elizabeth Halloran provided expertise for this interactive COVID-19 map, which overlays travel and migration data with epidemiological data.
The New York Times
MARCH 14, 2020
The etiquette of social distancing in the time of coronavirus, from the ‘Miss Manners’ of germs
Dr. Steve Pergam, an infectious disease expert, provided commentary on social distancing in light of COVID-19.
Seattle Times
MARCH 6, 2010
Coronavirus: what cancer patients need to know
Advice for cancer patients, survivors and caregivers on who’s most at risk for COVID-19 and what you can do to stay healthy
Hutch News
MARCH 1, 2020
Coronavirus may have spread in the U.S. for weeks, gene sequencing suggests
Dr. Trevor Bedford and Seattle Flu Study researchers sounded the alarm that they had detected community spread of SARS-CoV-2 in the U.S.
Article is based on a tweet string by Trevor Bedford.
The New York Times
February 2020
The novel coronavirus is given a name, SARS-CoV-2, as scientists raced to track and predict what would happen with the new disease, COVID-19.
January 2020
Researchers and disease modelers tracked the novel coronavirus spreading quickly in Asia and raised alarms that it would likely become a significant global health issue.
JANUARY 22, 2020
Mining coronavirus genomes for clues to the outbreak’s origins
Dr. Trevor Bedford cautioned that the novel coronavirus could spread through human-to-human transmission, likely after an introduction to humans from an animal host, through his analysis of viral genomes.
Science Magazine
LATE 2019
The virus later known as SARS-CoV-2 makes the jump from animals to humans.