COVID-19 Research News

This article was first published by the Duke Center for Applied Genomics and Precision Medicine

Speculation that a vaccine for COVID-19 might be widely available by the end of this year is overly optimistic, three Duke experts said Wednesday.

While there may be substantial scientific progress by the end of 2020, there will still be significant manufacturing hurdles to clear before a vaccine is available to most people, the experts said during a briefing for media.

Below are excerpts from the briefing:

ON DR. ANTHONY FAUCI’S RECENT TESTIMONY ABOUT A VACCINE BY THE END OF 2020

David Ridley, health economist

Duke’s MURDOCK Study has launched a COVID-19 research project to follow the health of hundreds of North Carolina volunteers for several months. The study will also test a sub-group for COVID-19 infection and potential immunity to the novel coronavirus that causes the disease.

Duke doctors brief media on how best to move forward in the pandemic

If you’re in public and see someone wearing a mask, that person is doing it for your benefit.

So return the favor.

That was one of several themes to emerge Thursday from a media briefing featuring two Duke medical scholars with vast expertise in vaccines, immunology and the spread of infectious diseases like COVID-19.

Drs. Sallie Permar and Cameron Wolfe took questions for an hour on myriad issues. Here are excerpts:

More resources and health protections are critical to protect Hispanic communities – many filled with essential workers – during the ongoing pandemic, three Duke health experts said Wednesday.

These resources range from simple public health education targeting their communities to paid sick leave, health insurance and the ability to distance while on the job, the health experts said during a question-and-answer panel with media.

Here are excerpts from the conversation:

See all talks from Duke researchers and Durham community partners on the forum website.

In North Carolina, Hispanics and Blacks are contracting COVID-19 at disproportionate rates relative to their representation in the population, and Blacks are dying of COVID-19 at higher rates.

The virus’s ability to change makes it likely that new human coronaviruses will arise

A team of scientists studying the origin of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that has caused the COVID-19 pandemic, found that it was especially well-suited to jump from animals to humans by shapeshifting as it gained the ability to infect human cells.

Test sees the antibodies that would grant immunity to COVID-19 – if it occurs

Researchers at the Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore have announced a new blood test for neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and have formed public and private partnerships to begin working toward making the tests clinically available. 

A trio of researchers at Duke University School of Medicine who have long collaborated to study how the immune system’s antibodies respond to HIV infection are now focusing on the new coronavirus.

Even before the COVID-19 epidemic Latinx immigrants were a vulnerable population. Now, they are among those hardest hit, with a greater likelihood to have jobs that are insecure or increase their likelihood of exposure, and reduced access to health care or accurate information about how to protect themselves.