In the Catholic Church I think that would qualify for beatification.
Can we start a petition for sainthood based on this miracle, and include all the researchers who contributed after these initial mRNA platform breakthroughs?
Iām sitting here typing with a somewhat sore back and headache, and very achy left deltoid having received my XBB booster 7 hours ago. We also owe a debt of gratitude to so many on the front lines, the essentials, and the folks who advanced the science and awareness of ventilation and respirators.
Hallelujah, and thanks for the exciting glimpse of the future.
Ingenuity coupled with increasingly sophisticated technology portends many amazing changes in our public health approaches with each passing year. Yet, with all the well-deserved accolades, there is the reality that 25-30% of the population has little or no confidence in vaccines for mitigating COVID19. These same vaccine deniers often depend on social media rumor mills for healthcare decision making. Credible therapies above and beyond antivirals must be added to the mix. Repurposing has been considered, but often pushed aside in favor of new designer drugs with more than just a little commercial interest behind them and at enormous cost to the public debt. In 2020 repurposing via the CURE Drug Repurposing collaboratory (CDRC) was establish by the formation of this public-private agency. CDRC Leadership more recently, however, has altered its original focus in identifying effective therapies by physicians outside the realm of research clinics treating COVID19 cases. Thus, there remains a lack of credible therapy save for the pure antiviral nirmeltrivir/ritonivir even after 4 years of dealing with such a novel infection.
There is actually a phase III trial of a Pfizer mRNA influenza vaccine compared to the current standard influenza vaccine. Open at about 382 sites in the US as well as sites in Europe, SA and Asian Islands.
This article reminded me of the purity and essential goodness of the scientist's vocation. And at the same time, the essential triviality of the politician's. How, oh how, did misinformation and social media and politics ever intrude into Science? The latter is at least five rungs above their intellectual pay grade.
Thank you for this excellent overview (even the parts that are a bit over my head). I have followed your reporting and commentary on the significance of the mRNA breakthrough over time, and it is through you that I have gained a much deeper appreciation of the importance of the work of these two Nobel winners. It is particularly heartening to know, as you state, āThe KarikĆ³-Weissman breakthrough has evolved as a remarkable foundation for new vaccines, for both infectious diseases for which we didnāt have a vaccine, and many non-infectious diseases, and as therapeutics.ā
Also, speaking of science heroes of the pandemic, I hope folks have seen that Linsey Marr was awarded a MacArthur genius grant. Her quiet persistence in getting the entire scientific community to shift its paradigm on airborne diseases was nothing short of remarkable.
As always, beautifully written piece Dr. Topol. When can we expect a nasal mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccine for humans that induces robust mucosal and systemic immunity? Can you envision an mRNA therapeutic that counteracts the autoimmune components of the long term sequelae of COVID-19?
50 million lives saved and counting.
In the Catholic Church I think that would qualify for beatification.
Can we start a petition for sainthood based on this miracle, and include all the researchers who contributed after these initial mRNA platform breakthroughs?
Iām sitting here typing with a somewhat sore back and headache, and very achy left deltoid having received my XBB booster 7 hours ago. We also owe a debt of gratitude to so many on the front lines, the essentials, and the folks who advanced the science and awareness of ventilation and respirators.
Hallelujah, and thanks for the exciting glimpse of the future.
Ingenuity coupled with increasingly sophisticated technology portends many amazing changes in our public health approaches with each passing year. Yet, with all the well-deserved accolades, there is the reality that 25-30% of the population has little or no confidence in vaccines for mitigating COVID19. These same vaccine deniers often depend on social media rumor mills for healthcare decision making. Credible therapies above and beyond antivirals must be added to the mix. Repurposing has been considered, but often pushed aside in favor of new designer drugs with more than just a little commercial interest behind them and at enormous cost to the public debt. In 2020 repurposing via the CURE Drug Repurposing collaboratory (CDRC) was establish by the formation of this public-private agency. CDRC Leadership more recently, however, has altered its original focus in identifying effective therapies by physicians outside the realm of research clinics treating COVID19 cases. Thus, there remains a lack of credible therapy save for the pure antiviral nirmeltrivir/ritonivir even after 4 years of dealing with such a novel infection.
Ref: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/news-events-human-drugs/cure-id-moves-automated-data-collection-light-covid-pandemic
There is actually a phase III trial of a Pfizer mRNA influenza vaccine compared to the current standard influenza vaccine. Open at about 382 sites in the US as well as sites in Europe, SA and Asian Islands.
This article reminded me of the purity and essential goodness of the scientist's vocation. And at the same time, the essential triviality of the politician's. How, oh how, did misinformation and social media and politics ever intrude into Science? The latter is at least five rungs above their intellectual pay grade.
Thank you for this excellent overview (even the parts that are a bit over my head). I have followed your reporting and commentary on the significance of the mRNA breakthrough over time, and it is through you that I have gained a much deeper appreciation of the importance of the work of these two Nobel winners. It is particularly heartening to know, as you state, āThe KarikĆ³-Weissman breakthrough has evolved as a remarkable foundation for new vaccines, for both infectious diseases for which we didnāt have a vaccine, and many non-infectious diseases, and as therapeutics.ā
Also, speaking of science heroes of the pandemic, I hope folks have seen that Linsey Marr was awarded a MacArthur genius grant. Her quiet persistence in getting the entire scientific community to shift its paradigm on airborne diseases was nothing short of remarkable.
As always, beautifully written piece Dr. Topol. When can we expect a nasal mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccine for humans that induces robust mucosal and systemic immunity? Can you envision an mRNA therapeutic that counteracts the autoimmune components of the long term sequelae of COVID-19?