Turning on the 'science tap' to fight COVID-19
By Mark LautensContributor
Mon., March 23, 2020timer3 min. read
While it is folly to believe turning on scientific discovery is like turning on a tap or flipping a switch, the swift reaction to the current COVID-19 crisis highlights our enormous scientific capacity.
This is not a moment to celebrate, but rather to be grateful for all the work that has been done to lay the groundwork for our ongoing efforts to stem the tide of the global pandemic.
We are "all in." Science is back in the news, and in a good way.
The scientific power we are harnessing has been built up over decades through funding programs from government, industry and the private sector. In essence we are cashing in on our savings as we take on this formidable challenge.
Have we saved enough? Are we going to be able to reach a standstill, never mind defeat our viral foe? Of course that remains to be seen. It is early days.
In the intervening time since the SARS crisis, dramatic advances in molecular biology tools are such that scientists can now quickly determine the genetic sequence of a new virus and rapidly produce test kits that make it possible to efficiently screen large numbers of people. This capacity was beyond our wildest dreams a mere 15 years ago.
Similarly, years of research seeking new therapeutic agents against viral infections, best illustrated by effective anti-HIV agents, means pharmaceutical companies have thousands of known molecules in their "chemical libraries" when they search for a lead compound to optimize. Even better, perhaps they will find a previously synthesized chemical agent that could be effective and has already gone through early clinical trials and can be fast-tracked. The advances in "small molecule" synthesis and testing are simply spectacular.
More efficient methods of rapidly creating vaccines are now in hand and may help us reach our goal months faster than was previously possible. The timelines have all accelerated and reset, even if we press for immediate results.
Science by its very nature builds on the individual advances in very diverse fields that are put together like bricks of a house. Some fields are in vogue and sexy, others less so. But that does not mean those that appear less important today will be less crucial to our future well-being. That is the conundrum of scientific research.
Fortunately research groups studying virology, genetics and allied fields persevered in spite of funding obstacles and give us a fighting chance in the current outbreak.
The straight truth is that we rarely know what will be the next big thing until it is already upon us. We are somewhat prepared or scrambling, depending on our investments over many years. Like a balanced portfolio that can weather market twists and turns, wise investment in fundamental and applied research can help to mitigate the impact of new challenges in our path.
Since no one can predict what technology is going to be needed, we should maximize diversity in our research funding, in all its incarnations. Perhaps most importantly by letting basic science and engineering stumble along and chase down the unknown so we are better prepared for a future, which is similarly unknown.
The current pandemic is far from over, yet in a matter of weeks we have moved from not knowing much about a virus to knowing a great deal. Yet still better tools are needed to render it less harmful.
Let's imagine a future where even faster responses are possible, one where new techniques let us develop drugs, vaccines and treatments that are bespoke and address the needs of individual patients.
When our current crisis is past and we start to feel more secure, remember how science and medicine were part of a network that helped to blunt the tsunami. Investing proactively in research is just one of the cornerstones to improve human health. No one believes we have the resources to fund all topics to the level they deserve, but wise and broad investment provides the best hope for better outcomes.
One final thought. While we ask many to stay home, we ask some of our best and brightest researchers to step up and redouble their efforts. The irony of that contradiction should not be lost on anyone. Without those on the front lines, both in the hospitals and the labs, the prognosis for all of us would certainly be worse.
Mark Lautens is J.B. Jones Professor of Chemistry at the University of Toronto.