Modernizing biotechnology for the fight against COVID-19 and the future of pandemic response

Authors

Alexander Titus, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research & Engineering (CTO), Department of Defense
Michelle Rozo, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research & Engineering (CTO), Department of Defense
Diane DiEuliis, Center for the Study of Weapons of Mass Destruction, Institute of National Strategic Studies, National Defense University

Abstract

As the world scrambles to combat the global pandemic of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), we’re witnessing a real-time demonstration of emerging biotechnology’s capabilities — computational tools, biological engineering, and advanced manufacturing are key factors in the fight against COVID-19. The United States should start to accelerate biotechnology in order to combat COVID-19.

The anatomy of an outbreak requires specific response capabilities. First, as people get sick, we need the ability to rapidly and reliably test people and track the spread of the virus. Second, we need treatments and vaccines to remedy the sick and to prevent spread to the uninfected. Ultimately, the ability to rapidly produce and manufacture these technologies at-scale is critical to responding to the pandemic. In these arenas, biotechnology is working to speed up the response.

Document Type

Article

Topic(s)

Emerging Science and Technologies, Global Health

Publication Date

4-2020

Recommended Citation

Titus, Alexander; Rozo, Michelle; and DiEuliis, Diane, "Modernizing biotechnology for the fight against COVID-19 and the future of pandemic response" (2020). Articles and Op-Eds. 25.
https://digitalcommons.ndu.edu/wmdcenter-articles/25