The Spectrum video series

The world’s response to COVID-19 has brought to light some successful strategies and many areas for improvement in confronting a deadly and contagious pathogen. Reflecting on SARS-CoV-2 and other viral threats, experts dive into the critical roles of genomics, vaccines and machine learning in our ability to rapidly characterize and respond to novel infectious diseases.

Speakers: Akiko Iwasaki, Professor, Yale University; Angela Rasmussen, Faculty Affiliate, Georgetown University; Peter Lee, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Research & Incubations; Kristian Andersen, Professor, Scripps Research

Preeminent geneticists Pardis Sabeti and Christian Happi join leading civil engineer Lauren Gardner for a discussion on the current state of outbreak surveillance, diagnostics and response systems, presenting ways to better prepare for future outbreaks. The conversation, moderated by Kristian Andersen, professor at Scripps Research, reviews the importance of genomics and rapid diagnostics in understanding, monitoring and stopping the spread of infectious diseases including SARS-CoV-2, Ebola and Lassa fever. The experts also reflect on the need for real-time data tracking and dissemination, as exemplified by the Johns Hopkins’ interactive COVID-19 dashboard, developed by Gardner and colleagues.

Speakers: Kristian Andersen, Professor, Scripps Research; Lauren Gardner, Associate Professor, Johns Hopkins University; Christian Happi, Professor, Redeemer's University; Pardis Sabeti, Professor, Harvard University

Antiviral medicines and vaccines are both critical tools in our therapeutic arsenal for combating viral outbreaks. Vaccines can provide broad protection for a population, while antiviral drugs treat patients and can be rapidly and cheaply distributed. In this session, Andrew Ward shares how understanding the precise structure of the coronavirus contributed to a stabilizing innovation used in the two approved SARS-CoV-2 vaccines (from Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech). Case McNamara shares updates on efforts to identify effective antiviral drugs against SARS-CoV-2. Both discuss learnings and technological developments that can be used to combat future pandemics.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is a global leader in responding to COVID-19, building on partnerships and expertise to support continued vaccine innovation and accelerate development and equitable distribution of tests, treatments, and vaccines to low- and middle-income countries. Trevor Mundel, who leads the foundation’s efforts to develop interventions against the leading causes of death and disability in developing countries, spotlights the most urgent and potentially productive targets for R&D innovation to counter the current pandemic and prepare for future ones.

Vaccines for COVID-19 were developed with unprecedented speed, but it still wasn’t fast enough for those who fell victim to the virus. Antiviral drugs could have served as primary tools for combating infection during this time. And unlike most vaccines, they can be rapidly distributed without refrigeration and at modest cost. How can we be better prepared with antiviral drugs for the next pandemic? This panel discusses the preemptive groundwork for creating readily available drugs for viruses most likely to drive the next global pandemic.

Speakers: Fredia Lewis-Hall, Former CMO & Executive Vice President, Pfizer; John Martin, Former CEO & Chairman, Gilead Sciences; Trevor Mundel, President, Global Health Division, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Peter Schultz, President & CEO, Scripps Research

An overwhelming need for new medicines still exists, as does the need for new funding streams to support breakthrough basic research at nonprofit institutes. Peter Schultz is pioneering an operating model to fulfill both demands—and believes other biomedical research organizations could do the same.

How can we improve collaboration across the entire health ecosystem to benefit patients? Leaders of top scientific institutes and biopharmaceutical enterprises share insights on how to break down the silos that often separate research, drug discovery and drug development, and medicines with the goal of solving urgent health challenges at a faster pace.

Speakers: Cori Bargmann, Head of Science, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative; Tom Daniel, Chairman, Locanabio; Peter Schultz, President & CEO, Scripps Research; Marc Tessier-Lavigne, President, Stanford University

Kristen Johnson and Michael Bollong delve into the discoveries of novel small-molecule drugs that have shown the ability to promote joint and organ repair—a largely unmet challenge in the field of regenerative medicine. Their work includes potential treatments for osteoarthritis, chronic diabetic wounds, liver resection and lung fibrosis, providing hope for millions of people worldwide in need of a disease-modifying treatment.

Jeffery Kelly is a leader in understanding and treating degenerative diseases linked to protein aggregation and misfolding. He shares his work identifying modulators of pathways critical to cellular housekeeping such as autophagy, which could have major implications for neurodegeneration.

New discoveries are paving the way to longer, healthier lives. Hear from Leonard Guarente, a leading authority on the molecular biology and genetics of aging, longevity, and age-related diseases; and Maria Millan, a physician-scientist who leads California stem cell agency CIRM in developing the specialized regulatory, preclinical research, manufacturing and clinical operations to enable regenerative medicine trials. In a conversation moderated by Jeffery Kelly, they discuss how today’s innovations may someday benefit us all.

Speakers: Leonard Guarente, Professor, MIT; Heinrich Jasper, Director, Immunology Discovery, Genentech; Jeffery Kelly, Professor, Scripps Research; Maria Millan, President & CEO, CIRM

The brain’s mysterious inner workings—and its interplay with the rest of the body—are at the core of addiction and other devastating diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Marisa Roberto is a leader in studying the effects of addiction in the brain, uncovering new insights into the mechanisms of alcohol use disorder and revealing potential new treatments. Sean Joseph leads the development of Calibr’s novel immuno-modulatory approach to neurodegeneration, with potential for targeting ALS, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and more.

It is finally becoming possible to detect disease before it truly takes hold, thanks to genomics and predictive technologies that can guide proactive medical care or lifestyle changes. Industry leaders from Illumina and Quest Diagnostics discuss the promise of individualized medicine and reflect on emerging forces that are already changing the face of health care for the better.

Speakers: Ali Torkamani, Associate Professor, Scripps Research; Jay Wohlgemuth, CMO & Physician Executive, Quest Diagnostics; Phillip Febbo, CMO, Illumina.

Clinical trials are needed to validate novel therapies and expand our understanding of how to detect and diagnose disease. For too long, however, clinical research has been limited to in-person visits at a small number of trial sites, creating barriers that keep out would-be participants. Now, with genomics and digital health tools at our fingertips, that’s all changing. Genome-wide association studies and digital clinical trials result in larger, more diverse pools of participants and richer data—and often, a far lower cost than traditional trials. Most importantly, these decentralized approaches produce valuable insights that translate into better patient care.

Speakers: Katie Baca-Motes, Sr. Director, Strategic Initiatives, Scripps Research Digital Trials Center; Edward Ramos, Director, Digital Clinical Trials, Scripps Research Digital Trials Center; Ali Torkamani, Associate Professor, Scripps Research