DOCSLIB.ORG

The Journal of Life Sciences, Fall 2009

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Journal of Life Sciences, Fall 2009 PROFILE DANIEL S. LEVINE 40 THE JOURNAL OF LIFE SCIENCES FALL 2009 Lost in Translation Eric Topol doesn’t just want to understand the genes that drive illness and wellness, he wants to make sure that such knowledge actually changes the way doctors practice medicine. By Daniel S. Levine hortly after arriving in La Jolla, Califor- the hospital and makes sure you have coffee nia nearly three years ago, Eric Topol and know where the restrooms are,” he says. Sfound himself addressing a room full of Individualized medicine is “not about treating San Diego’s business leaders at the exclusive someone as a VIP.” University Club with its grand views of the city It wasn’t surprising that weeks after landing in below. The former top cardiologist at Cleveland San Diego, Topol would declare that the city’s Clinic had just recently come to town to become future lies in individualized medicine. After all, director of the Translational Science Institute he was leading an effort in translating an under- at the Scripps Research Institute, the world’s standing of human genetics into better medi- largest independent non-prof- cine. But it was not an it biomedical research facili- idle boast. Since he first ty. Topol, who was speaking The future of medicine settled in at the Scripps about the future of medicine, Institute in January told the crowd at the end of his is going to be integrating 2007, Topol has been talk in March 2007, “You folks genomic science into doing everything in are known for wireless and you his power to make it are known for tourism. But in the clinical treatment of so. As a high-profile the future you are going to be individuals and there are researcher and clini- known for the future of medi- cian, his goal is not just cine, for genomics, and indi- not very many physicians to find genes that can vidualized medicine.” make medicine more If Topol succeeds in his who are equipped today predictive, preventive, efforts to lead broad genom- to perform that or to and, individualized. He ics studies at Scripps—that wants also to make sure talk won’t be the last time that bring genomics into the these findings get test- San Diego’s business elite hear clinic. In that sense, Eric is ed in the clinic and put about individualized medicine. into practice. The term refers to whole medi- already a global leader. “The future of medi- cal approach that incorporates —David Gollaher, President and CEO, cine is going to be inte- the knowledge of a particular California Healthcare Institute grating genomic sci- individual’s genetics to deliv- ence into the clinical er appropriate care. “It’s about treatment of individu- being able to understand what makes a person als and there are not very many physicians who Eric Topol, director of the Scripps either susceptible, or protected, or responsive, are equipped today to perform that or to bring Translational Science or unresponsive to various treatments, devices, genomics into the clinic,” says David Gollaher, Institute, is branching drugs, or whatever,” says Topol, who at 55 has president and CEO of the California Healthcare out beyond Institute, a La Jolla, California-based biophar- genomics to include the fit appearance you’d expect in a cardiologist wireless healthcare (at least one you’d trust). Topol, however, bris- maceutical industry advocacy group. “In that technology in his tles at the mention of “personalized medicine,” sense, Eric is already a global leader. There’s no work in the hopes of the more commonly used term for this new question about it. That’s the mission he’s taken translating findings about genes into field, saying it confuses patients. “It sounds like up. He’s the prophet of genomics and genomic improved care for a concierge, the person who takes you around science.” patients 4 1 THE JOURNAL OF LIFE SCIENCES Fall 2009 DANIEL S. LEVINE This is something that’s very near and dear to him. Can we leverage genetics and genomics? That’s one question—can we design drugs or trials that target people with certain genetic profiles. The other one is to maybe leverage wireless technologies. —Nicholas Schork, Director of Research, Scripps Genomic Medicine Program Gollaher notes there is always a big lag between West Foundation to launch the West Wireless basic scientific discoveries and their application Health Institute. The organization is set to con- in the clinic. He points to the 19th-century dis- duct clinical research on the use of wireless sen- coveries of Robert Koch and Louis Pasteur and sors to prevent, monitor, and manage disease the germ theory of disease, which took more in patients. And, he’s mapped out plans for a than a generation to be incorporated into clini- medical school at Scripps with a focus on trans- cal medicine in the form of antiseptics. “There lational medicine. But that project for now is will be a lag,” he says, “and it will be people like stalled over resolving the issue of a $100-mil- Eric who compress that and make it available lion naming grant. earlier rather than later.” Were all that not enough, he’s been earning Though Topol’s office sits along the fabled Tor- style points, too. In 2008, he was one of 10 medi- rey Pines Golf Course, he says he doesn’t get to cal researchers named a “Rock Star of Science.” play often enough to be any good. It’s no wonder. The distinction resulted in Topol being fea- Topol examines a map Since arriving in La Jolla, he’s been quite busy. tured in a GQ magazine photo spread wear- of the United States Among the accomplishments he can already ing designer garb alongside Sheryl Crow, Seal, that tracks patients check off on his list: He’s brought together basic Will.i.am, Joe Perry, and Josh Groban. It was in the Wellderly Study. His daughter science researchers and clinicians from the dis- part of a campaign by designer Geoffrey Beene Sarah Topol (right), parate arms of Scripps to launch the Scripps called “Geoffrey Beene Gives Back” to call atten- a registered nurse, Translational Science Institute. He led the insti- tion to the contributions of medical research- heads up recruitment of participants for the tute’s successful effort to land a $20-million ers and the need to accelerate the translation of groundbreaking look grant from the National Institutes of Health discoveries into cures. “I never have enough to at the genes of healthy under its Clinical and Translational Science do,” says Topol. “I require a lot of stimulation or people older than Awards program—the only non-university to I get bored.” 80 who have never suffered from chronic date to win such an award. He’s also attracted Boredom shouldn’t be a problem for Topol diseases. $45 million in funding from the Gary and Mary at the Scripps Translational Science Institute. 42 THE JOURNAL OF LIFE SCIENCES FALL 2009 Already, the genomics projects are stacking up. African Americans cannot properly metabolize Among the most compelling is the “Wellderly the drug. The study is being run in conjunction Study,” an examination of the DNA of people 80 with all of the Scripps medical facilities, giving and older who have had no history of chronic researchers access to data from a broad patient disease. The goal is to unlock the genetic secrets cross-section. “They’re taking a drug for $4 a to longevity. Topol says to date, medical research day for the rest of their lives or whatever, and it has largely centered on finding genetic markers doesn’t work,” says Topol, who notes there are for disease. This focus on sickness has neglected other therapies available for such patients. “It’s the genetics of health. an exciting project because using this test could Already, 750 people have enrolled in the study. become the norm some day.” Though the results are preliminary, the findings Topol’s interest in genetics started long before so far are surprising. The wellderly appear to his medical career. Born in Queens, New York have the same bad genes—those that have been and raised in the Long Island suburb of Ocean- linked to such illnesses as Alzheimer’s, heart side, Topol was bored with high school, having disease, and cancer—as everyone else. However, skipped two grades. At just 15, he entered the there is an early indication that they may also University of Virginia in Charlottesville. As a col- have modifier genes that are unique to them. lege student in 1975 he wrote his thesis on “The These genes appear to mediate the expression Prospects for Genetic Therapy in Man.” of the disease-linked genes. He supported himself in college by work- Another major study underway is an effort ing the night shift at the UVA hospital. He had to find out the behavioral impact of personal planned to become a biomedical engineer, but genetic testing on people who want to learn that changed when he saw patients in the inten- their potential risk for developing certain dis- sive care unit. Patients who looked as if they eases. About 5,000 participants have enrolled were going to die eventually transformed and in the Scripps Genomic Health Initiative as became well again. “I said, ‘This medical stuff is it’s called. The study is a joint effort between pretty impressive,’” he recalls. “Of course I was Scripps, software giant Microsoft, consumer seeing the rare bird—the person that was actu- genetics company Navigenics, and genetic anal- ally helped—because most people in the inten- ysis tools maker Affymetrix.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Artificial Intelligence in Health Care: the Hope, the Hype, the Promise, the Peril
    Artificial Intelligence in Health Care: The Hope, the Hype, the Promise, the Peril Michael Matheny, Sonoo Thadaney Israni, Mahnoor Ahmed, and Danielle Whicher, Editors WASHINGTON, DC NAM.EDU PREPUBLICATION COPY - Uncorrected Proofs NATIONAL ACADEMY OF MEDICINE • 500 Fifth Street, NW • WASHINGTON, DC 20001 NOTICE: This publication has undergone peer review according to procedures established by the National Academy of Medicine (NAM). Publication by the NAM worthy of public attention, but does not constitute endorsement of conclusions and recommendationssignifies that it is the by productthe NAM. of The a carefully views presented considered in processthis publication and is a contributionare those of individual contributors and do not represent formal consensus positions of the authors’ organizations; the NAM; or the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data to Come Copyright 2019 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. Suggested citation: Matheny, M., S. Thadaney Israni, M. Ahmed, and D. Whicher, Editors. 2019. Artificial Intelligence in Health Care: The Hope, the Hype, the Promise, the Peril. NAM Special Publication. Washington, DC: National Academy of Medicine. PREPUBLICATION COPY - Uncorrected Proofs “Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.” --GOETHE PREPUBLICATION COPY - Uncorrected Proofs ABOUT THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF MEDICINE The National Academy of Medicine is one of three Academies constituting the Nation- al Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (the National Academies). The Na- tional Academies provide independent, objective analysis and advice to the nation and conduct other activities to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions.
    [Show full text]
  • NHS England Briefed Against Gps
    this week NHS RESERVES page 381 • MESH CLINICS page 382 • LIVERPOOL TESTING page 384 LMCs: NHS England briefed against GPs GP leaders have demanded that NHS chair of the BMA’s General Practitioners The BMA’s Richard Vautrey England and NHS Improvement apologise Committee, writing to the NHS chief said it seemed NHS England and retract any communications that may executive, Simon Stevens, asking for had “intentionally sought have harmed their reputation or incited NHSE/I to “apologise to the profession and to create negative media coverage of primary care” complaints by implying that practices had correct damage that has been done.” not been fully involved in care of patients Vautrey wrote, “Implying within the throughout the covid-19 pandemic. press release that GPs are not providing A motion passed at the annual patients with the appointments they conference of England’s local medical need and ‘reminding’ them that they face committees on 27 November said that ‘enforcement action’ if they do not has much of NHSE/I’s communications with presented NHSE/I as antagonistic and GPs, the press, and the public had been completely out of touch with the profession. “abhorrent and insulting.” The conference It also seems to many GPs that NHSE/I has, called for NHSE/I to recognise general by using this tactic, intentionally sought to LATEST ONLINE practice’s contribution to the management create negative media coverage of primary of the pandemic and the continuation of care services. Test for HIV normal service, “particularly given the “The BMA is now hearing large numbers wherever blood is general practitioners who have died in the of reports from practices receiving taken, recommends course of their duties to the public.” complaints and many staff members being UK independent The motion added that it “deplores verbally abused by the public based on commission the habit” of briefi ng journalists before these unsupported and ill-informed media Declarations of communicating with the profession and its articles.
    [Show full text]
  • Patients First
    04 Patients First PATIENTS FIRST THE CLEVELAND CLINIC 2004 ANNUAL REPORT 1 “Patients First” > On Oct. 1, 2004, The Cleveland Clinic welcomed Delos M. Cosgrove, M.D., as its new Chief Executive Offi cer and President. With the inauguration of Dr. Cosgrove, The Cleveland Clinic has rededicated itself to one of the most sacred principles of medicine: “Patients First.” This prin- ciple declares the primacy of patient care, patient comfort and patient communication in every activity undertaken by The Cleveland Clinic. It affi rms the importance of research and education for their contributions to clinical medicine and the improvement of patient care. At the same time, “Patients First” demands a relentless focus on measurable quality. By setting standards, collecting data and analyzing results, The Cleveland Clinic puts patients fi rst through improved outcomes, better service and by providing a healthier future for all. PATIENTS FIRST THE CLEVELAND CLINIC 2004 ANNUAL REPORT 2 Dear Friends: In 2004, The Cleveland Clinic enjoyed the best year in its and visitor spending. We are currently the largest employer history. We helped more patients and contributed more in Northeast Ohio, and the third largest non-governmental to our local and regional economies than ever before. The employer in the state. Our economic activities create ad- number of patient visits, surgeries and hospital admis- ditional jobs in the community, for a total of 65,000 jobs sions at The Cleveland Clinic and Cleveland Clinic Health overall. We are responsible for direct and indirect state System have surpassed all previous years. Working as a and local taxes totaling $300 million – including one out team, we are building, educating and innovating for the of every 10 tax dollars collected in the city of Cleveland.
    [Show full text]
  • Anatomy and Atrophy of Medical Paternalism Robert F
    Anatomy and Atrophy of Medical Paternalism Robert F. Graboyes and Eric Topol MERCATUS RESEARCH Robert F. Graboyes and Eric Topol, “Anatomy and Atrophy of Medical Paternalism” (Mercatus Research, Mercatus Center at George Mason University, Arlington, VA, 2017). ABSTRACT Since Ancient Greece, a guiding principle of Western medicine has been pater- nalism—the idea that doctors have intrinsically superior insights, patients should defer to their edicts, and this asymmetry is a desirable state of affairs. In the 20th century, new medical knowledge and technologies accumulated at an unprecedented rate, and medical paternalism arguably reached its zenith. Now, however, new technologies are eroding the doctor’s privileged role by deconstructing, digitizing, and democratizing medical knowledge. Digital technologies and other breakthroughs offer unprecedented opportunities to save lives and cut costs. Along with self-interest, however, selective strains of risk aversion, technophobia, and egalitarianism among physicians are gener- ating resistance to the new reality. This article catalogs the motives for and impact of medical paternalism, the reasons for its decline, and potential policy responses that would ease the transition. JEL codes: I11, I13, I18, K2 Keywords: health care, healthcare, medicine, physician, doctors, consumer sov- ereignty, licensure, certification, regulation, prices, technology, digital health The Mercatus Center gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the John Templeton Foundation for research on healthcare policy in the United States. Copyright © 2017 by Robert F. Graboyes, Eric Topol, and the Mercatus Center at George Mason University The views expressed in Mercatus Research are the authors’ and do not represent official positions of the Mercatus Center or George Mason University. Patients .
    [Show full text]
  • Commencement
    UN IVERS IT Y 0 F R 0 CHESTER 0 N E HUN 0 R E 0 SIXTY~ FIRST COMMENCEMENT MAY 2011 Introduction, 4 Honorary Awards, 5 Honor Societies and Awards, 1 0 Doctoral Degree Candidates, 14 Doctor of Philosophy, 14 School of Nursing, 15 Doctor of Nursing Practice, 15 Eastman School of Music_, 16 Doctor of Musical Arts, 16 Doctor of Education, 16 Degree Candidates, 17 School of Arts and Sciences, 1 7 Bachelor of Arts, 17 Bachelor of Science, 22 Master of Arts, 25 Master of Science, 26 Bachelor of Arts, 2 7 Bachelor of Science, 27 Master of Science, 28 Eastman School of Music, 30 Bachelor of Music, 30 Master of Arts, 31 Master of Music, 31 School of Medicine and Dentistry, 32 Master of Arts, 32 M aster of Science, 32 M aster of Public Health, 32 Doctor of M edicine and Doctor of Philosophy, 33 Doctor of M edicine and Doctor of Philosophy with Distinction in Research, 33 Doctor of M edicine with Distinction in Research and with Distinction in Community Service, 33 Doctor of Medicine with Distinction in Research, 33 Doctor of M edicine with Distinction in Community Service, 33 Doctor of M edicine, 33 William E. Simon <L;raduate School of Business Administration, 34 School of Nursing, 35 Bachelor of Science, 35 M aster of Science, 36 M argaret Warner Graduate School of Education and Human Development, 37 M aster of Science, 37 The Genesee, 39 Campus M ap, 40 Jntrodu( lion ARich Tradition at Rochester The commencement season has always stnod out as the of the l:n iversity, and two silver bands are engraved with the "supreme festival" on Rochester 's academic calendar, Arthur names ' >f the Cniversity's presidents.
    [Show full text]
  • Dr Eric Topol ******@***Scripps.Edu Cardiologist and Geneticist, Directs
    Zoom On: Dr. Eric Topol, Translational Science Leader Dr Eric Topol ******@***scripps.edu Cardiologist and Geneticist, Directs - Scripps Translational Science Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA Chief Academic Officer - Scripps Health Eric Topol, MD is a cardiologist and geneticist who directs the Scripps Translational Science Institute (La Jolla, CA, USA). He is also the Chief Academic Officer at Scripps Health, and a senior consultant at the Scripps Clinic’s Division of Cardiovascular Diseases. He is a professor of genomics in the Department of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, where his research focuses on individualised medicine and the interface of genomics and technology. In 2012, Dr. Topol was named the Most Influential Physician Executive in Healthcare by Modern Healthcare for taking on the topic of how big data will revolutionise hospitals and healthcare in general. In his 2012 book The Creative Destruction of Medicine, Dr. Topol addresses the topic of how healthcare stands to benefit from technology and the wireless age. The tools which are increasingly used by physicians and patients alike, such as mobile phones and pocket computers, are not only useful for their ability to connect doctors and patients. The greatest potential exists in their generation of health information that will serve researchers in ways that data from clinical trials cannot. Population-based studies are limited in the ways they can predict how patients respond to disease therapies, but personalised medicine that ultimately includes genomic sequencing and printing technology will change the way patients are diagnosed and treated. Dr. Topol has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Medicine, and has received numerous awards including the European Society of Cardiology’s Andreas Gruntzig Award and the Thompson Scientific Award “Doctor of the Decade”.
    [Show full text]
  • D I V I S I O Ns, D E Pa R T M E N T S, I N S T I T U T Es, and Centers
    section four D I V I S I O N S, D E PA R T M E N T S, I N S T I T U T E S, AND CENTERS 1 5 5 11. DIVISION OF MEDICINE BY MUZAFFAR AHMAD, CLAUDIA D’ARCANGELO, AND JOHN CLOUGH A good physician knows his patient through and through, and his knowledge is bought dearly. Time, sympathy, and understanding must be lavishly dispensed, but the reward is to be found in that personal bond, which forms the greatest satisfaction of medical practice. —A.C. Ernstene B E G I N N I N G S THE DIV I S I O N OF MED I C I N E HA S PL AY E D AN IM P O R TAN T RO L E IN TH E development of medical practice at The Cleveland Clinic since its opening in 1921. Dr. John Phillips, the only internist among the four founders, was the first chief of the Division of Medicine, then called the Medical Department. He was a true family physician who saw medicine begin to move away from house calls and toward an of fice-based practice during the eight years between 1921 and his untimely death in 1929 at age 50. Nevertheless, he continued to tr eat patients with diverse disorders and make house calls, often spending his entire weekend visiting patients in their homes. Despite his own inclination and experience, Phillips rec o g n i z e d the value of specialization. In 1921, he assigned Henry J.
    [Show full text]
  • PCP MEETING SUMMARY, June 2014
    MEETING SUMMARY PRESIDENT’S CANCER PANEL CANCER COMMUNICATION IN THE DIGITAL ERA: OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES June 13, 2014 San Diego, California This workshop was the first in the President’s Cancer Panel’s (the Panel) 2014-2015 series, Cancer Communications in the Digital Era: Opportunities and Challenges. During this workshop, representatives from the academic research community, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and nonprofit organizations convened to discuss ways to organize a series of meetings focused on the potential of new media, especially social and participative media technologies, to improve the control of cancer. Participants were encouraged to live-tweet at #NewComm4Cancer during the workshop. President’s Cancer Panel Barbara Rimer, Dr.P.H., Chair Owen Witte, M.D. National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health Abby Sandler, Ph.D., Executive Secretary, President’s Cancer Panel Meeting Co-Chair Bradford W. Hesse, Ph.D., Chief, Health Communication and Informatics Research Branch, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute Participants David B. Abrams, Ph.D., Executive Director, The Schroeder Institute for Tobacco Research and Policy Studies, Legacy David K. Ahern, Ph.D., Special Advisor, Health Communications and Informatics Research Branch, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute Nelvis Castro, B.S., Acting Director, Office of Communications and Education, National Cancer Institute Wen-ying Sylvia Chou, Ph.D., M.P.H., Program Director, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute Robert Croyle, Ph.D., Director, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute Robert D. Furberg, Ph.D., M.B.A., Senior Clinical Informaticist, RTI International Peter Garrett, A.B., Senior Advisor to the Director, National Cancer Institute Karen Glanz, Ph.D., M.P.H., George A.
    [Show full text]
  • Pmconfprog1 (Page 1)
    Personalized Medicine: Promises and Prospects A Conference Hosted By HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL – PARTNERS HEALTHCARE CENTER FOR GENETICS AND GENOMICS November 3-4, 2005 The Conference Center Harvard Medical School Boston, Massachusetts Conference Program November 3, 2005 Dear Colleague, It is my pleasure to welcome you to Personalized Medicine: Promises and Prospects. The past few years have witnessed a revolution in the understanding of health and dis- ease, brought on by the sequencing of the human genome and the creation of a map of human genetic variation. It is now becoming possible to translate this knowledge to patient care. The ability to use genetic and genomic information in diagnosis, prognosis and treatment has been given a name: personalized medicine. The goal of personalized medicine is to provide the right diagnosis and treatment to the right patient at the right time at the right cost. Hosted by the Harvard Medical School – Partners Healthcare Center for Genetics and Genomics (HPCGG) the conference will focus on the perspectives of Government, Pharmaceutical, Academic, and Diagnostic leaders as well as those of healthcare providers and payers in implementing the new paradigm of personalized medicine. The program will feature several personalized medicine case studies on topics such as lung cancer and cardiovascular disease and will highlight the information technology infra- structure needed to make personalized medicine a reality. The tone for the conference will be one that will explore what happens "on the ground" when personalized medicine is put into practice, and what that means for caregivers, patients and payers, as well as for the industries that develop products for personalized medicine.
    [Show full text]
  • Drug Research and Development for Adults Across the Older Age Span the Era of COVID-19 and Beyond the National Academies of Scie
    Hier “rcpe ppt header Large 01.emf” platzieren Drug Research and Development for Adults Across the Older Age Span The Era of COVID-19 and Beyond The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine Sven Stegemann Professor for Patient Centric Drug Development and Manufacturing Graz University of Technology K1 Competence Center - Initiated by the Federal Ministry of Transport, Innovation and Technology (BMVIT) and the Federal Ministry of Science, Research and Economy (BMWFW). Funded by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG), Land Steiermark and the Styrian Business Promotion Agency (SFG). The context of drug development and healthcare technology Covid-19 Quality, Safety and efficacy Special patient populations Policies and Regulations Development Clinical trials Scientificand clinical (incl PFDD) (incl pediatrics & geriatrics) Healthcareprovision evidence Discovery Dev. & clinical trail Patients & Fast track, break through & orphan Technology New modalities Innovation (CAR-T cells) (wearable diagnostics, Digital health programs telemed) Use & generate scientific and clinical evidence directly to patients e.g. Remdesivir, SARS-CoV2 vaccine, digital healthcare, new clinical trials design,... Agenda – August 6, 2020 – 12.00 pm – 1.30 pm Opening remarks by panel moderator, European perspective SVEN STEGEMANN Lessons learned from COVID-19 (12.00 – 1.00 pm) U.S. regulatory changes Digitization of medicine HARPREET SINGH ERIC TOPOL Division Director (Acting) Founder and Director U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Division of Oncology 2 Scripps Research Translational Institute Infectious disease perspective Patient perspective JOHN POWERS BEVERLY CANIN Senior Medical Scientist Patient Advocate Leidos Biomedical Research Cancer and Aging Research Group Telehealth / Physician perspective ERIKA RAMSDALE Panel discussion (1.00 – 1.30 pm) Assistant Professor University of Rochester Medical Center.
    [Show full text]
  • COVID-19 Variants Update Background
    COVID-19 Variants Update Background: I have been writing about COVID-19 since late December 2019, before it even had a name. Many times, the information in the articles was just that, informational – something we, at FirstWatch, thought you should know. Other times, I/we thought it was more critical, more crucial, that you really "got" the information. We shared information from others, again viewed as critical, as you prepared for your personal and/or professional response to this new viral disease. FirstWatch has done that with the utmost care to remain true to the science available on the subject as well as the principles of infection prevention & control, while also considering our mostly First Responder audience and what we know about that large group. Specifically, that First Responders literally respond into the thick of it, without a lot of intel, except what the PSAP Operators and Dispatchers have been able to determine and share. EMS and other First Responders who provide assistance to anyone who has a medical problem, even if they don't know it yet, and even if it's not part of the reason you are there, puts you in a position of risk not seen in hospitals and other medical facilities. That's why we sometimes recommended more diligence, such as assuming everyone may be sick, until you have assessed the situation fully. The atmosphere you may go into may be charged with germs in droplets, aerosols, and on hard & soft surfaces and require more protective PPE, disinfection, and caution. We identified COVID-19 as being transmitted by aerosols over a year before the WHO and CDC formally did.
    [Show full text]
  • Workshop on Jumpstarting Access to Clinical Data for COVID-19 Research Moderators, Panelists, Speakers & Researchers
    Workshop on Jumpstarting Access to Clinical Data for COVID-19 Research Moderators, Panelists, Speakers & Researchers Contents Opening Remarks .......................................................................................................................................... 2 Keynote on COVID-19 ................................................................................................................................... 3 Background ................................................................................................................................................... 4 Acquiring and Linking Data from Different Clinical Environments ............................................................... 5 Creating and Using Platforms ....................................................................................................................... 7 Generalizability, Reproducibility, & Validity ............................................................................................... 10 Things to Consider: Governance, IRB, DACs, Eligibility, and Security Confidentiality ................................ 13 Considering Issues of Diversity and Representativeness ............................................................................ 18 Finalize, Vision and Next Steps ................................................................................................................... 21 Use Cases ...................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]