Introduction to the COVID-19 resource

COVID-19 is one of the most important social, economic and public health challenges that the world has experienced since WWII. Possibly never in recent history has the importance of scientists working in the life sciences been more apparent than now. Hundreds of thousands and possibly millions of lives now depend on their efforts and their collaborations across the planet.

Confronting the challenge of documenting the global COVID-19 pandemic

The rapid rise of the virus (SARS-Cov2) and the swift spread of the pandemic pose many challenges in understanding events as they happen. As part of WiB’s mission to educate we felt it important to capture the science and the work of the scientists as they come to grips with Covid-19.

Our objective is to explain the science behind the diagnostics, vaccines and treatments being developed across the world and to profile the scientists at the front of the battle to identify and treat the virus. We are putting together regular COVID-19 briefings from scientists and other people on the ground attempting to develop tests and treatments for the virus and and other resources to understand COVID-19 within the wider historical context.

WiB is developing the COVID-19 resource in collaboration with Professor Gordon Dougan and his team at Jeffrey Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge University.