Scientists across the globe are racing to develop an effective coronavirus vaccine, and local researchers are at the forefront of that effort. Rochester is one of four sites in the nation selected to test a coronavirus vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech. The trial began last month, and the vaccine is one of few in the world to have advanced to clinical trials. A separate vaccine study is set to launch in Rochester in August.
We talk with scientists leading these studies at the University of Rochester Medical Center and Rochester Regional Health. They discuss the state and timeline of vaccine development, the latest research on the drug Remdesivir, and what it means for controlling the virus. Our guests:
- Dr. Ann Falsey, M.D., infectious disease specialist with Rochester Regional Health, professor in the Department of Medicine (Infectious Diseases) at the University of Rochester Medical Center, and co-director of the URMC Vaccine Trials and Evaluation Unit
- Dr. Angela Branche, M.D., assistant professor in the Department of Medicine (Infectious Diseases) at the University of Rochester Medical Center, and co-director of the URMC Vaccine Trials and Evaluation Unit
- Rebecca Timmons, vaccine trial participant
