In response to the global SARS-CoV-2 crisis, and in close consultation with leadership of the Perelman School of Medicine, we are excited to announce the founding of the Penn Center for Research on Coronaviruses and Other Emerging Pathogens.
The goals of the Center are to 1) Accelerate SARS-CoV-2 research under Biosafety Level 3 containment, 2) Provide centralized information on SARS-CoV-2 research at Penn, and 3) Compile information on funding opportunities for research on SARS-CoV-2 and other emerging pathogens.
The Center will be led by Susan Weiss and Frederic Bushman. A highly distinguished set of researchers from Penn, CHOP and Wistar have agreed to serve as our internal advisory board.
Already Penn researchers are expanding stocks of SARS-CoV-2 and beginning studies of viral replication and inhibition. The Center is working to expand these efforts and to create new research opportunities in this area.
It is gratifying to see how rapidly the Penn community has come together to address this global health crisis. We have much to do.
Papers on Coronaviruses from the Penn Community
ANNOUNCEMENTS
A single and two-stage, closed-tube, molecular test for the 2019 novel coronavirus at home, clinic, and points of entry, El-Tholoth, Bau and Song, in “ChemRxiv”
No credible evidence supporting claims of the laboratory engineering of SARS-CoV-2, Liu, Saif, Weiss and Su, “Emerging Microbes and Infections”
TWITTER
Many factors will determine how soon scientists can detect the impact of COVID-19 vaccines on the pandemic. Among them are the extent of vaccine coverage, the effectiveness of shots at preventing disease and infection, and the rate of viral transmission. https://go.nature.com/3qIGE39
We now have a case of the UK variant of SARS-CoV-2 in Southeastern PA. Kudos to Pascha Hokama, John Everett, and the team that did the work
https://6abc.com/health/philly-area-woman-diagnosed-with-uk-variant-of-covid-19/9688618/
Great job Louis and Arwa! https://twitter.com/bushmanlab/status/1328727334501965824
Great job Louis and Arwa!