As countries across the world resort to drastic measures to stop the spread of COVID-19, the importance of concerted research efforts and rapid response has become more apparent—and more imperative. Already a global leader in research on coronaviruses, Penn Medicine is gathering their best minds in microbiology in the newly established Center for Research on Coronavirus and Other Emerging Pathogens.
“Few have seen anything like this outbreak in their lifetimes,” says Frederic Bushman, the William Maul Measey Professor in Microbiology at the Perelman School of Medicine and co-director of the Center. “The public can do much to limit the spread by following the guidance of public health authorities. Our Center will launch new research to identify methods for treatment and prevention that can mitigate both the current and future outbreaks.”
Donors have already stepped up to help accelerate important initiatives in coronavirus research at this crucial time. Last week, Jim and Sara Gowing gave a $50,000 gift to be split between the Center’s Gift Fund and the Clinical Response Team Fund, which provides immediate support for doctors and nurses on the front lines of patient care. Additional funding can help accelerate the development of home testing kits and antiviral screenings of existing pharmaceuticals that might work against the virus and drive the discovery of new treatment options.
Hearing all that Penn Medicine has underway to address this health crisis was inspiring, and we were glad to be able to support those efforts.”Jim and Sara Gowing
The Center is also seeking support for other priorities such as expanding the capacity of its Biosafety Level Three lab, the containment level necessary for safely conducting research on COVID-19; identifying animal models that mimic the human response to the disease to aid in drug development; strengthening the Center’s Gift Fund to support ongoing research; and many more opportunities to increase our researchers’ capacities for understanding and fighting COVID-19 and other microbial menaces.
While the COVID-19 epidemic has captured the world’s attention over the past few months, Susan Weiss, professor of microbiology at the Perelman School of Medicine and co-director of the Center, has studied the family of viruses known as coronavirus for four decades. Those viruses include Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, or SARS, which emerged in 2003, and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome.
That early work laid a foundation for responding to the threat posed by COVID-19. Weiss hopes that the importance of funding basic science research will endure as Penn Medicine continues to lead the charge in this critical moment. “Those early years of research and mentoring have taught us a lot about the coronavirus family that will help us to act quickly during health crises like we are experiencing now,” Weiss says. “Our Center for Research on Coronavirus and Other Emerging Pathogens will serve as a central site to promote synergy among clinicians and investigators from across the University and health system to best fight the COVID-19 pandemic and to be prepared for the emergence of any future coronaviruses.”
The basic science and clinical research taking place at the Center for Research on Coronavirus and Other Emerging Pathogens is vital to lifesaving measures needed now and for the future. Those who wish to join the fight can support the Center’s Gift Fund, follow the Center on Twitter, or contact Penn Medicine to learn about additional opportunities to contribute to this urgent mission.
SUPPORT THE CENTER FOR RESEARCH ON CORONAVIRUS GIFT FUND
