During a Thursday morning announcement, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine scientists discussed a potential vaccine against SARS-CoV-2, the new coronavirus causing the COVID-19 pandemic.
The study, which appears in The Lancet’s EBioMedicine, is the first peer-reviewed paper describing a candidate vaccine for COVID-19.
During the press briefing, News Talk 104.1 General Manager Todd Bartley asked Louis Falo, M.D., Ph.D., professor and chair of dermatology, Pitt School of Medicine and UPMC about the clinical human trial portion of the vaccine.
His response is available in the audio link below:
As COVID-19 continues to spread across the United States and the world, the need for a vaccine is urgent.
Pitt’s researchers were able to work quickly on this potential vaccine because they had already laid the groundwork during earlier coronavirus epidemics.
When tested in mice, this vaccine, delivered through a fingertip-sized patch of microscopic needles, produces antibodies specific to SARS-CoV-2 at quantities thought to be sufficient for neutralizing the virus.
A video presentation was also made this morning as well.
