COVID-19 Videos
Antibodies, Vaccines and the Current State of COVID-19
An extended conversation between Dr. Eric Topol, Director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute, and Professor Dennis Burton, Chair of the Department of Immunology and Microbiology at Scripps Research. Listen as they talk about antibody cocktail treatments, the mystery of “longhaul” COVID-19 symptoms and how close we are to developing a coronavirus vaccine.
PreSCRIPPSion Sound podcast version of the conversation
Read full transcript
Front Row Lecture Series: Designing Universal Vaccines for Influenza and Coronaviruses
As the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic edges up on the onset of flu season, the need for effective vaccines for these viruses and others is abundantly clear. In this Front Row Lecture, Ian Wilson, DPhil, chair of Scripps Research's Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, discusses advances in designing and developing universal vaccines that could either treat or protect people against all strains of a virus. He focuses on progress developing universal vaccines against influenza and how research on flu has paved the way for current efforts to find a pan-coronavirus vaccine.
Up to 45 percent of SARS-CoV-2 Infections May be Asymptomatic, New Analysis Finds
An extraordinary percentage of people infected by the virus behind the ongoing deadly COVID-19 pandemic—up to 45 percent—are people who never show symptoms of the disease, according to the results of a Scripps Research analysis of public datasets on asymptomatic infections.
Survivors of Coronavirus Infections May Hold the Secret to Stopping COVID-19
Soon after the COVID-19 pandemic reached the United States, a team of Scripps Research scientists began studying blood samples from patients recovering from infection by the novel coronavirus. In this virtual Front Row lecture, Dennis Burton, PhD, shared how he and his collaborators are analyzing COVID-19 survivors' blood for proteins, known as antibodies, that the immune system creates after encountering the virus. Antibodies to the new coronavirus could be used as much-needed therapeutics to COVID-19 or to help design a vaccine to protect against the disease.
Outsmarting Emerging Pathogens in an Interconnected World
Kristian Andersen, PhD, a genomic epidemiologist, was among the first to begin tracing the origins and spread of the novel coronavirus based on public genome sequencing data. In this virtual Front Row lecture, Andersen shares unique insights on how COVID-19 emerged and he explains what has worked (and hasn’t worked) to mitigate the public health crisis. Lessons learned can help us contain the current pandemic and prepare for future outbreaks.
Coronavirus structure may hold key to treatment: Scripps Research COVID-19 updates
Andrew Ward, PhD, a professor of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, revealed the first structure of a human coronavirus spike protein in 2017 from the HKU1 virus, and went on to do the same for SARS and MERS. He and his team are now investigating the structure of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and working with collaborators to isolate antibodies from patients. They also developed new imaging methods that may work as a diagnostic tool to probe blood samples from those with COVID-19.
Using the immune response to develop coronavirus treatments and vaccines: Scripps Research COVID-19 updates
Dennis Burton, PhD, and Thomas Rogers, MD, PhD, are studying the human immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infections and working to identify antibodies that may serve as the basis for vaccines or antiviral therapies. They need volunteers who have recovered from COVID-19 to help with their research. If you are interested in helping, contact Karen Westfall at kwestfall@scripps.edu.
How digital health devices can predict virus outbreaks: Scripps Research COVID-19 updates
A new app-based research program will analyze participants’ wearable health data—including heart rates, sleep and activity levels—to more quickly detect the emergence of influenza, coronavirus and other fast-spreading viral illnesses. Adults who use a smartwatch or activity tracker such as a Fitbit, Apple Watch, Amazfit or Garmin Watch, can join the study and consent to share their data by downloading the MyDataHelps mobile app.
Scripps Research on '60 Minutes'
"60 Minutes" highlights how scientists are using ReFRAME, an extensive library of over 14,000 small-molecule drugs shown to be appropriate for direct use in humans, in the fight against the novel coronavirus, which causes COVID-19. Calibr—the drug development division of Scripps Research—compiled ReFRAME with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Watch the full episode here.
Repurposing existing drugs for coronavirus: Scripps Research COVID-19 updates
Calibr, the drug development division of Scripps Research, is leveraging its powerful ReFRAME drug repurposing collection to find anti-viral drugs for those who have been exposed to the novel coronavirus.