It has become impossible to keep up with the unprecedented volume of research that has followed COVID-19. But interpreting new knowledge is all in a day’s work for globally respected University of Cape Town microbiologist Professor Robin Wood, who will outline cutting edge developments in coronavirus prevention and treatment in a new webinar series hosted by PPS, MedicalBrief and UCT’s Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation.
The first webinar in this new series will be held on Friday 19 June from 14.30 to 15.30, and will carry CPD Points for participants.
Titled COVID-19 prevention and treatment – Interpreting global research, the webinar will be moderated by MedicalBrief Managing Editor William Saunderson-Meyer. Professor Robin Wood will present for half an hour, after which he will answer questions.
[link url="https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_KgMCjmcYRF2MOQXgm3GXlA"]Click to register for the PPS MedicalBrief webinar with Professor Robin Wood[/link]
Wood will draw on interpretations of the international deluge of pre-print research into COVID-19 to identify major trends in prevention and treatment of relevance to South African doctors and the health care sector.
Regarding treatment, various options have been suggested, among others Remdesivir and chloroquine. There has been much confusion around their effectiveness, with research kicking up contradictory results. Perhaps more interesting, and more controversial, are steroids – Wood says steroid use is a double-edged sword; it could be harmful but it could also be beneficial.
The webinar will offer a nuanced understanding of trials, which is sorely needed, and will provide important support to medical professionals in Africa to get up to speed with the latest COVID-19 research globally.
Professor Robin Wood
Professor Robin Wood is director of the Desmond Tutu HIV Centre and a member of the University of Cape Town’s Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, where he heads the scientific research group of the Medical Research Council–UCT flagship programme investigating the aerobiology of tuberculosis transmission.
A National Research Foundation A-rated scientist, he a Visiting Scientist at Harvard Medical School and an Honorary Professor of the London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
Wood has served on numerous international scientific advisory boards including the United States Presidents Emergency Program for AIDS Relief, the World Health Organization, the International AIDS Society, the International Partnership for Microbicides, AERAS TB Vaccine initiative, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
The webinar series
The PPS MedicalBrief webinar series, in partnership with the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation, will feature webinars drawing on the infectious diseases research and expertise of Professor Robin Wood.
A ‘tester’ webinar with Wood was held in late April and prompted an enthusiastic response. Launching on 19 June, the webinars will be held every two to three weeks after that. Here is a brief description of future webinar topics:
COVID-19 vaccine – How close are we? The development of a vaccine against COVID-19 would be a game-changer – a way out of the pandemic. There are well over 100 groups in the race to develop vaccines. This webinar will look at progress and prospects in this large, fast-moving field. It will be a technical discussion in a crucial area that Wood believes is not being sufficiently thought through.
COVID-19 transmission – An absence of data: Wood is doing ground-breaking research into transmission at the Aerobiology TB Research Facility at UCT. An important area of COVID-19 revolves around fomite transmission by direct transfer from surfaces versus airborne transmission via large particles versus small particle transmission. But research and technologies related to transmission are poor worldwide. Wood will bring doctors and health professionals up to speed on findings in this key area of COVID-19 prevention.
COVID-19 models – Fatally flawed? Models have been developed to predict, among other aspects, COVID-19 infection and death rates. Models have dramatically influenced the behaviour of officials, policy-makers and people, but have also been widely criticised for inaccuracy. People bought into flawed models, Wood says, “because we didn’t have anything else”. He will highlight ludicrous decision-making, some limitations of models and the need for their calibration.
Historical precedent – The need for perspective: “Study the past, if you would divine the future,” Confucius said. Robin Wood has experienced three pandemics in his lifetime: Asian flu, HIV-Aids and SARS. What lessons may be learned from history, that can inform efforts to overcome COVID-19?
[link url="https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_KgMCjmcYRF2MOQXgm3GXlA"]Click to register for the PPS MedicalBrief webinar with Professor Robin Wood[/link]