a16z Podcast Preventing Pandemics with Genomic Epidemiology
Jun 30, 2020
Trevor Bedford, an Associate Professor at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and co-creator of Nextstrain, discusses the pivotal role of genomic epidemiology in public health. He highlights how viral mutations and animal-to-human spillover can be managed to prevent future pandemics. Trevor delves into the transformation brought by COVID-19 on scientific communication, emphasizing the importance of preprints and open science. He also explores advancements in sequencing technology and its potential to enhance pathogen detection and disease monitoring.
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Promise and Peril of Preprints
- Preprints accelerate science but can spread misinformation.
- Peer review doesn't guarantee truth, and preprints often have clearer warnings about their uncertainty.
Source Selection
- Trevor Bedford prioritizes preprints for viral evolution and epidemiology.
- He relies on published, peer-reviewed articles for medical countermeasures.
Open Science and Speculation
- Open science platforms like Twitter enable valuable scientific speculation.
- Increased public attention can hinder this openness.