Curiosity Daily

Coronavirus Vaccine Development: Scientific Challenges and Timelines with Dr. Julia Schaletzky (COVID-19 Bonus Episode)

Episode Summary

Dr. Julia Schaletzky explains what it takes to develop vaccines for viruses like COVID-19. Dr. Schaletzky is the Executive Director of the Center for Emerging and Neglected Diseases, the Drug Discovery Center, and the Immunotherapy and Vaccine Research Institute at UC Berkeley.

Episode Notes

In this special coronavirus coverage from Curiosity Daily, Dr. Schaletzky discusses:

What science needs to be done in order to make a new vaccine a reality?
Why can’t we grow a live virus vaccine for COVID-19?
What are the challenges associated with animal testing?
How long does it take to complete clinical trials and why are they so important?
What are the differences between ebola vaccine development and coronavirus vaccine development?
Why do we update vaccines for the seasonal flu, and will we have to update a COVID-19 vaccine after it’s been developed?
What zoonotic viruses have we identified besides COVID-19 and how can we protect humans from them in the future?
What is it about a bat’s immune system that increases risk of virus transmission to humans?
How long should it take to create a vaccine, and will it happen before we’ve developed herd immunity?
What’s the difference between a live virus vaccine, a recombinant vaccine, and an mRNA vaccine, and which might be most effective against coronavirus?
How long does it take to be sure a vaccine is safe for humans?
Why can’t everyone in the US get a serological test to see if they’ve already had COVID-19?
What can the coronavirus pandemic teach us about policies and funding that impacts scientific research in the future?

Additional resources from Dr. Julia Schaletzky, Executive Director of the Henry Wheeler Center for Emerging and Neglected Diseases at University of California, Berkeley:

Center for Emerging and Neglected Diseases (CEND) http://cend.globalhealth.berkeley.edu/
CEND COVID-19 Outbreak Watch http://cend.globalhealth.berkeley.edu/coronavirus-outbreak-watch/
Immunotherapy and Vaccine Research Institute (IVRI) https://ivri.berkeley.edu/
Department of Molecular & Cell Biology (MCB) faculty bio for Julia Schaletzky, PhD https://haas.berkeley.edu/biology-business/academics/faculty/
Follow @CENDUCBerkeley on Twitter https://twitter.com/CENDUCBerkeley
Follow
Dr. Schaletzky’s CEND profile http://cend.globalhealth.berkeley.edu/julia-schaletzky-phd/

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Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/coronavirus-vaccine-development-scientific-challenges-and-timelines-with-dr-julia-schaletzky-covid-19-bonus-episode

Episode Transcription

CODY: Hi! You’re about to get smarter in just a few minutes with Curiosity Daily from curiosity-dot-com. I’m Cody Gough.

ASHLEY: And I’m Ashley Hamer. In this special bonus episode, you’ll learn about what it takes to develop vaccines for viruses like COVID-19, with help from Dr. Julia Schaletzky.

CODY: Dr. Schaletzky is the Executive Director of the Center for Emerging and Neglected Diseases, the Drug Discovery Center, and the Immunotherapy and Vaccine Research Institute at UC Berkeley. And she covers a LOT in this conversation, so buckle up. Ashley and I will catch up with you at the end of the interview, but right now, let’s satisfy some curiosity.

[FULL INTERVIEW, UNCUT]

CODY: So, you know… there’s certainly some room for improvement when it comes to preparing for a pandemic. But on the bright side, maybe — just maybe — we can learn a thing or two from this unprecedented global event, and use those lessons to avoid making the same kinds of mistakes again in the future.

ASHLEY: [ad lib banter about the stuff she talked about]

CODY: Join us again tomorrow to learn something new in just a few minutes.

ASHLEY: And until then: wash your hands, and stay curious!