Research in times of a pandemic 27 April 2020
The new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has a tremendous impact on individual life - especially for the elderly. The public health measures were necessary to control the ongoing viral transmission and protect high risk groups. The University of Basel and our Department contributed to these measures - research activities slowed down for most of us. My research team helped in the routine diagnostics of the University Hospital Basel to manage the large amount of samples from COVID-19 patients. In addition, my team rapidly established a protocol to sequence SARS-CoV-2! The sequences have been shared via Nextstrain. Thereby we contribute to molecular epidemiology to better understand the transmission. Finally, we help with data structuring and analysis from the Hospitals Clinical Data Warehouse. We also help to build various biobanks and submited ethical and research proposals. This would not be possible with such a great team and the hard work of all members of my research group! It is a difficult time for all of us, but you all make the best of it and help with your dedication and enthusiasm! Thank you for this!