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Finally, COVID-19 is no longer the only topic dominating the news cycle, although it took several months before mainstream media felt they could move away from covering a global pandemic that was likely affecting every person on the planet. In some ways it was a relief to know that the urgency had lessened and other news was appropriate to report on again. Not that media have stopped reporting on COVID-19 stories….
COVID-19 has presented the world with a common enemy. In most countries, it has brought citizens together and we’ve witnessed remarkable acts of kindness and charity. Some companies have thrived in this pandemic world while many others have gone into receivership. The cell and gene therapy industry, being focused on improving people’s health, has been in the thick of the battle to find a vaccine and a treatment for ill patients. Will it emerge victorious?
For five years now, Signals has been hosting a blog carnival. It was an experiment back in 2016 and I’m pleased to say that the reception from you, our readers, has been positive.
The blog carnival is an opportunity to hear from thought leaders and bloggers about a topic that we believe is timely and relevant, and will provoke different perspectives. We’ve covered Right-to-Try, the 10-year anniversary of Yamanaka’s prize-winning research, whether the cell and gene therapy industry “has arrived,” and more.
This year, I asked nine individuals and/or organizations to think about how COVID-19 has presented both challenges and opportunities for the regenerative medicine field. I know you will find their answers illuminating and thought-provoking (they are thought leaders after all).
First-time contributors to the blog carnival Michael May, President and CEO of CCRM, and Phil Vanek, Partner at Gamma Biosciences, both offer an insightful overview of the industry (here and here). One perspective is more macro while the other could be considered micro, yet they both touch on some of the same points and even reference the same 19th century writer. Can you guess who? You won’t want to miss what these industry leaders think about the situation.
Brent McPherson, of World Courier, examines the topic from his perspective as a supply chain and logistics expert. Read how the pandemic has impacted those crucial areas of our industry and what we should be doing post-pandemic.
The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine and the Stem Cell Network use their platforms to focus on promising research coming from California and Canada. Blogger Tara Fernandez also writes about research, in the area of strokes, and takeaways for COVID-19. Will our industry provide a vaccine and/or treatment for the coronavirus? Read these blogs to find out!
Susan Nichols, CEO of Falcon Therapeutics and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Rare Disease Innovations Institute, contemplates how the first five months of staying home has affected patients who are enrolled in, or awaiting, clinical trials. She analyzes what we’ve learned so far and questions what that means for therapy developers sponsoring clinical trials in the future.
Professor David Kent, University of York and a self-described optimist, searches for the silver lining in this pandemic. Read his blog to discover whether he finds it.
Last, but certainly not least, we learn what has been happening in Australia. Will Australia produce a vaccine for its citizens? And if it does, will it have the manufacturing infrastructure in place to make it available? Chih Wei Teng, Chief Operating Officer of CCRM Australia, titles his blog “In search of a better tomorrow.” No doubt, that is something we all want – along with a quick return to our pre-pandemic lives.