The Contagion Conference on Testing will look at the critical issues and challenges posed by COVID-19 and will present technologies and approaches that can enable society to open and avert the need for lockdowns. The Virtual event will be broadcast from New York City and will feature panels on
The Conference will present the latest research findings on how testing can control the spread. It will present promising technologies seeking strategic partners to accelerate their development.
Presenting firms will include those which received NIH Funding as part of the RADx “Shark Tank” competition which has awarded $437 million in contracts to the 24 companies with the most promising technologies. These companies went through an intensive due diligence process and were selected based on their potential for near term impact on addressing the COVID testing challenge.
“The idea RADx was to find breakthrough solutions that can scale. The idea of this conference is to help breakthrough companies succeed through partnerships and collaboration. Success with testing can help bringing back normalcy to society and avoid the lockdowns that have shattered the lives of millions” said Brett Johnson, Director of the Virus Project and CEO of Altru Institute which created the Virus Project to serve as a communications platform for collaboration and to address Pandemics in the future.
“Testing is central to controlling the spread that is threatening the world. Bringing together the smartest scientists and most talented entrepreneurs is fundamental to addressing this crisis. Collaboration is essential,”
The half day virtual event will also include panels and presentation on the latest research by experts on the core and critical structural issues that must be understood to advance testing in the US and globally.” said Edward Borrelli, Contagion Conference Director.
The Virus project is reaching out broadly to aggregate the best current knowledge on critical issues. This content is being assembled into research reports for The Virus Project Research Library, which contains science based accurate and apolitical information for decision makers. The topics being researched include:
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Market Structure. How is the testing industry organized? What are the barriers to accelerated adoption of new technologies and increased partnerships between organizations with complimentary skills?
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Regulation. Are regulatory requirements slowing progress on testing and thwarting life-saving innovations? Are changes to the regulatory regime appropriate. If so, what are they?
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Screening and Surveillance Tests vs. Diagnostics Tests. What is the differentiation? What are performance requirements and expectations?
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Viral Load. Infection vs. Contagion At what level does contagion occur? Can this be measured? What is the distinction? Is everyone who is infected contagious?
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Contact Tracing. The role of quarantining and contact tracing. How should tests integrate with these? What is the current status of such programs and the challenges of success?
This is the first conference of The Virus Project which was created to provide a connecting platform for the brightest ideas and most capable individuals interested in collaboration to find solutions. Future Contagion Conferences will focus on therapies, vaccines and containment and will aggregate accurate and trusted content on each area.
Those with research content becoming a resource on structural and scientific issues or with information on promising technologies to address pandemics please contact us.
NOTE: The Virus Project is are seeking recommendations of companies or projects that are developing innovation in the area of testing. Recommend a project at this link. SUBMIT
For more information contact: eborrelli@thevirusproject.org