We will be updating this page regularly. Last updated: May 20, 2020.
HHMI works every day to discover and share new scientific knowledge. Today, our mission takes on new urgency, as our scientists, educators, and staff contribute to the fight against COVID-19. This essential work includes efforts in diagnostic testing, understanding the basic biology of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, modeling epidemiology, and developing potential therapies or vaccines. Our science education teams are equipping educators with online teaching resources and supporting high-quality science journalism. Behind the scenes, our operations staff is busy helping to make it all happen. Here are some of our stories.
HHMI Investigator Bert Vogelstein
A clinical trial in people with the new coronavirus is testing a drug that may halt an overactive immune response before it ramps up. Read more »
HHMI Investigator Aviv Regev
The new coronavirus invades cells that sport certain molecules on their surfaces. A network of researchers realized they already had the data to identify these cells. Read more »
HHMI Investigator Feng Zhang
Researchers and a volunteer team from Pinterest developed How We Feel, an app that lets users report symptoms of the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. Read more »
HHMI Investigator Kevan Shokat
A map of interactions between the novel coronavirus and human proteins is helping scientists identify drugs that might work as therapeutics. Read more »
HHMI Investigator Stephen Elledge
Using a research assay called VirScan, scientists plan to study how antibodies from people who have had the disease attack the virus. Read more »
HHMI Investigator David Baker
@foldit scientific discovery game
Using a free computer game called Foldit, researchers are enlisting the help of citizen scientists to design drugs that could stop the novel coronavirus from infecting human cells. Read more »
HHMI Investigator Jean-Laurent Casanova
A new international project aims to enroll 500 COVID-19 patients to search for genetic mutations that make some people more vulnerable to severe infection. Read more »
Free Online Resources for Biology Courses
BioInteractive offers resources and strategies to support the move to online teaching and learning. These include materials about viruses, stories of scientists combatting epidemics, and activities for lab sections.
Support for Science Journalism
Our support of the Associated Press enables additional coverage of the coronavirus pandemic.
Additionally, we’re providing support to the National Geographic Society for its new emergency fund for coronavirus coverage.
