A5002830550- COVID-19 epidemiological studies
- Bacillus and Francisella bacterial research
- Viral Infections and Outbreaks Research
- Infection Control and Ventilation
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
- Influenza Virus Research Studies
- COVID-19 diagnosis using AI
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Virus-based gene therapy research
- Technology Assessment and Management
- Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy
- CRISPR and Genetic Engineering
- COVID-19 Pandemic Impacts
- COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
- Academic Publishing and Open Access
- Big Data and Business Intelligence
- Ethics in Clinical Research
- Scientific Computing and Data Management
- Animal Disease Management and Epidemiology
- Biomedical and Engineering Education
- Cell Image Analysis Techniques
- Disaster Response and Management
- Sustainability and Climate Change Governance
- Metabolism, Diabetes, and Cancer
University of Oxford
2020-2025
John Radcliffe Hospital
2021
European governments use non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to control resurging waves of COVID-19. However, they only have outdated estimates for how effective individual NPIs were in the first wave. We estimate effectiveness 17 Europe's second wave from subnational case and death data by introducing a flexible hierarchical Bayesian transmission model collecting largest dataset NPI implementation dates across Europe. Business closures, educational institution gathering bans reduced...
Significance We resolve conflicting results regarding mask wearing against COVID-19. Most previous work focused on mandates; we study the effect of directly. find that population notably reduced SARS-CoV-2 transmission (mean mask-wearing levels corresponding to a 19% decrease in R). use largest survey (n = 20 million) and obtain our estimates from regions across six continents. account for nonpharmaceutical interventions time spent public, quantify uncertainty. Factors additional mandates...
Abstract Chronic hyperglycaemia causes a dramatic decrease in mitochondrial metabolism and insulin content pancreatic β-cells. This underlies the progressive decline β-cell function diabetes. However, molecular mechanisms by which produces these effects remain unresolved. Using isolated islets INS-1 cells, we show here that one or more glycolytic metabolites downstream of phosphofructokinase upstream GAPDH mediates chronic hyperglycemia. metabolite stimulates marked upregulation mTORC1...
The risk of accidental or deliberate misuse biological research is increasing as biotechnology advances. As open science becomes widespread, we must consider its impact on those risks and develop solutions that ensure security while facilitating scientific progress. Here, examine the interaction between practices biosecurity biosafety to identify opportunities for mitigation. Increasing availability computational tools, datasets, protocols could increase from with potential. For instance, in...
Abstract As European governments face resurging waves of COVID-19, non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) continue to be the primary tool for infection control. However, updated estimates their relative effectiveness have been absent Europe’s second wave, largely due a lack collated data that considers increased subnational variation and diversity NPIs. We collect largest dataset NPI implementation dates in Europe, spanning 114 areas 7 countries, with systematic categorisation tailored...
The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the world's vulnerability to biological catastrophe and elicited unprecedented scientific efforts. Some of this work its derivatives, however, present dual-use risks (i.e., potential harm from misapplication beneficial research) that have largely gone unaddressed. For instance, gain-of-function studies reverse genetics protocols may facilitate engineering concerning SARS-CoV-2 variants other pathogens. risk accidental or deliberate release dangerous...
As advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) propel progress the life sciences, they may also enable weaponisation and misuse of biological agents. This article differentiates two classes AI tools that could pose such biosecurity risks: large language models (LLMs) design (BDTs). LLMs, as GPT-4 its successors, might provide dual-use information thus remove some barriers encountered by historical weapons efforts. LLMs are turned into multi-modal lab assistants autonomous science tools,...
Abstract During the second half of 2020, many European governments responded to resurging transmission SARS-CoV-2 with wide-ranging non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs). These efforts were often highly targeted at regional level and included fine-grained NPIs. This paper describes a new dataset designed for accurate recording NPIs in Europe’s wave allow precise modelling NPI effectiveness. The includes from 114 regions 7 countries during period 1st August 2020 9th January 2021....
Vaccine platforms have been critical for accelerating the timeline of COVID-19 vaccine development. Faster timelines demand further development these technologies. Currently investigated platform approaches include virally vectored and RNA-based vaccines, as well DNA vaccines recombinant protein expression system platforms, each featuring different advantages challenges. Viral vector-based in particular received a large share research funding to date. Platform technologies may feature...
ABSTRACT Mask-wearing has been a controversial measure to control the COVID-19 pandemic. While masks are known substantially reduce disease transmission in healthcare settings [1–3], studies community report inconsistent results [4–6]. Investigating inconsistency within epidemiological studies, we find that commonly used proxy, government mask mandates, does not correlate with large increases mask-wearing our window of analysis. We thus analyse effect on instead, drawing several datasets...
Mitigating the risks from frontier AI systems requires up-to-date and reliable information about those systems. Organizations that develop deploy have significant access to such information. By reporting safety-critical actors in government, industry, civil society, these organizations could improve visibility into new emerging posed by Equipped with this information, developers make better informed decisions on risk management, while policymakers design more targeted robust regulatory...
The COVID-19 pandemic has sparked renewed calls for wildlife pathogen discovery efforts to predict emerging zoonotic diseases. In this Personal View, we highlight safety and security risks associated with large-scale viral collection characterization present risk mitigation strategies. Accidents may be minimized by international standards sample collection, indirect sampling, a culture of continuous learning around laboratory biocontainment. To prevent the proliferation ability create...
Responsible innovation efforts to date have largely focused on shaping individual technologies. However, as demonstrated by the preferential advancement of low-emission technologies, certain technologies reduce risks from other or constitute low-risk substitutes. Governments and relevant actors may leverage risk-reducing interactions across technology portfolios mitigate beyond climate change. We propose a responsible principle "differential development", which calls for leveraging between...
Mitigating the risks from frontier AI systems requires up-to-date and reliable information about those systems. Organizations that develop deploy have significant access to such information. By reporting safety-critical actors in government, industry, civil society, these organizations could improve visibility into new emerging posed by Equipped with this information, developers make better informed decisions on risk management, while policymakers design more targeted robust regulatory...
Abstract The advancement of low-emission technologies to curb climate change demonstrates how strategically managing the timing technological developments can mitigate negative societal outcomes. We propose that a similar approach, which we term ‘risk-sensitive innovation’, also address risks from emerging like synthetic biology and artificial intelligence. Risk-sensitive innovation (RSI) leverages interactions between reduce specific across technology portfolio. For instance, it may be...