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Scientists around the world are stepping up research on COVID-19, as the World Health Organization (WHO) begins to expand scientific collaboration and surveillance for emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19.
A one-day virtual meeting of scientists from around the world, convened by WHO, brought together more than 1,750 experts from 124 countries to discuss critical knowledge gaps and research priorities for emerging variants of the virus.
Welcoming them, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said: “Science and research have played a vital role in the response to the pandemic since day one and will continue to be the heart of everything WHO does. ”
The consultation was structured around six thematic areas covering epidemiology and mathematical modeling, evolutionary biology, animal models, assays and diagnostics, clinical management and therapeutics and vaccines.
Scientists stressed the importance of research to quickly detect and understand the potential impact of emerging variants on diagnostics, treatments and vaccines.
There was consensus on the importance of integrating new research on SARS-CoV-2 variants into the global research and innovation agenda while improving coordination between disciplines.
“Our collective goal is to get ahead of the curve and have a global mechanism to quickly identify and investigate variants of concern and understand their implications for disease control efforts,” said Dr Ana Maria Henao Restrepo , head of the WHO R&D project.
It is normal for viruses to mutate, but the more the SARS-CoV-2 virus spreads, the more opportunities it has to change. High transmission levels mean we should expect more variants to emerge.
Among the significant variants reported so far, some are associated with increases in transmissibility but not with disease severity. Research is underway to determine if the changes are impacting public health tools and measures.
Genomic sequencing has been essential in identifying and responding to new variants.
“So far 350,000 footage has been shared publicly, but most of it comes from only a handful of countries. Improving the geographic coverage of sequencing is essential for the world to have eyes and ears on the changes in the virus, ”said Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO COVID-19 Technical Officer.
Increasing sequencing capacity around the world is a priority research area for WHO.
Better surveillance and improved laboratory capacity to monitor strains of concern must be accompanied by rapid sharing of virus and serum samples through globally agreed mechanisms so that critical research can be initiated quickly every time.
Scientists stressed the importance of national data platforms for documenting critical clinical, epidemiological and viral data that facilitate the detection and evaluation of new variants of SARS-CoV-2.
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