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The thirtieth session of the COVID Information Commons (CIC) webinar series was held on September 23, 2024. In this forum, leading COVID-19 scientists presented their current research on the global pandemic.

Event moderators included Florence Hudson, Executive Director of the Northeast Big Data Innovation Hub at Columbia University and COVID Information Commons Principal Investigator (PI) and Emily Rothenberg, National Student Data Corps (NSDC) Program Manager.

The researchers presented various topics, including on neurotropic viral infections, the ecological dynamics of human coronavirus, and quarantine/testing policies for international travelers. Each touched on broader themes related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The session’s first speaker was Kristen Funk from the University of North Carolina, Charlotte. She presented her research on Neurotropic Viral Infection in Central Nervous System (CNS) Aging and Alzheimer's Disease from their COVID-19 Supplement. This project was funded by the NIH National Institute on Aging.

Dr. Funk presented her lab’s investigation into CD8+ T cell immunity in the aged brain in response to respiratory coronavirus infection. Her research focused on how antiviral immune responses in the central nervous system might impact post-infectious cognitive recovery. The study found that viral infections caused neuronal death through the CD8+ T cell response. In particular there was evidence of neuronal death in the hippocampus, which is important for spatial learning. Moving forward, she aims to better understand the mechanisms mediating this response, specifically the progression of Effector T cells and Memory T cells, the factors influencing them during aging, and how viral infections or T cells may contribute to Alzheimer’s disease-related pathology, including genotoxic stress.

A video of Kristen’s presentation can be found on the CIC website.

Next, John Yin from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, presented his research on the Ecological Dynamics of Human Coronavirus. This project was funded by the NSF Division of Molecular and Cellular Bioscience.

Dr. Yin discussed the evolutionary dynamics of human coronaviruses and the insights gained from studying these processes, exploring their implications for developing new strategies to prevent future pandemics. He presented various perspectives on the “zombie virus particles” generated as a byproduct of the viral replication process (genomes that lack essential information required for viral replication). These “zombies” naturally co-evolve with an active viral infection and can be traced by virologists interested in mapping a trajectory of the infection’s evolution. Dr. Yin concluded his presentation by outlining future research opportunities to better understand how “zombie viruses” function and interact with other infected cells, including possible therapeutic applications.

A video of John’s presentation can be found on the CIC website.

Finally, Dinesh Bojja from Yale University presented his paper on Sufficient COVID-19 quarantine and testing on international travelers from China. Bojja was the 3rd Place Winner of the 2023 COVID Information Commons Undergraduate Student Paper Challenge. The challenge was funded by NSF through the COVID Information Commons - Extension award.

Bojja’s research aimed to determine the optimal quarantine period for travelers during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on international travel restrictions. Bojja and his colleagues at Yale University developed a Sufficient Quarantine Model, based on quantitative public health modeling, to determine the appropriate quarantine duration for visitors. This approach will provide public health experts with scientific and objective criteria for quarantine regulations (rather than political, social, or economic considerations). The aim of this research is to provide governments worldwide with new tools to better allocate pandemic testing and treatment resources. 

A video of Dinesh’s presentation can be found on the CIC website.

Following the presentations, Florence Hudson hosted a Q&A session to answer audience questions and discuss insights.

A recording of this event is available on the Northeast Big Data Innovation Hub’s YouTube Channel and the COVID Information Commons website. The COVID Information Commons is an NSF-funded project brought to you by the Big Data Innovation Hubs, led by the Northeast Big Data Innovation Hub at Columbia University.

We look forward to welcoming you to the next CIC Lightning Talks webinar! Please sign up for the CIC newsletter to be informed of future CIC events.