CHOICE Institute
Estimating the Infection Fatality Rate among Symptomatic Covid-19 Cases in the U.S.
According to a study released today, Anirban Basu, Stergachis Family Endowed Director of The CHOICE Institute at the UW School of Pharmacy, has developed one of the first models that can estimate the COVID-19 Infection Fatality Rate among symptomatic cases (IFR-S).
The Infection Fatality Rate (IFR) is a critical parameter in understanding the COVID-19 pandemic. Basu, who authored the study, says his goal for the model is to address the measurement errors associated with case fatality ratio using statistical techniques that will allow us to infer about the IFR.
Medicinal Chemistry
Kelly Lee and Mike Guttman are on deployment of an effective vaccine to control and overcome the COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. With support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Kelly and Mike are beginning to analyze prospective vaccine candidates to determine whether the vaccine antigens being designed and developed are properly formed and pure. This process is necessary for the vaccines to have the best chance of eliciting a potent neutralizing immune response against the virus. As samples from patients become available, they also expect will analyze effective antibody responses that countered infection by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Gaurav Bhardwaj is collaborating with the Institute for Protein Design at UW to create inhibitors of the COVID-19 protease. This strategy is analogous to the strategy used in anti-AIDS drugs, which target a protease of the human immunodeficiency (HIV) protease.
Pharmaceutics
Rodney Ho recently spoke with USA Today, Salon, and Geekwire to discuss remdesivir, lopinavir, and hydrocholoroquinine as potential treatments for COVID-19.
Sam Arnold, an SOP alum and adjunct professor in pharmaceutics, recently published a paper on the treatment of COVID-19. Sam is also collaborating with Nina Isoherranen’s team to further refine the understanding of hydroxychloroquine and what dosing regimens might be the most likely to succeed.
Department of Pharmacy
Jennifer Bacci is involved in efforts by the Academic-CPESN Transformation (ACT) Collaborative through AACP, Flip the Pharmacy via CPESN USA and the Community Pharmacy Foundation.