Coronavirus - summary
16/04/2020 #EUvsVirus Hackathon vs. COVID-19
The pan-European hackathon of ideas will last from April 24 to 26. Its participants will jointly seek digital solutions for social problems related to COVID-19 pandemic. The event is organized by the European Commission. Registration remains open until April 19.
14/04/2020 Collecting data on the European COVID-19 Data Platform
The European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) has just launched an IT platform for collecting coronavirus data. The PAS Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry and Poznań Supercomputing and Networking Center will cooperate with EMBL as a national data hub.
10/04/2020 Polish coronavirus test developed by PAS scientists ready for production
The test was developed at the PAS Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry in Poznań. This is a great success of young researchers who have been voluntarily working in the laboratory day and night for the last three weeks. The request for registration has already been submitted. Thanks to a subsidy from the Ministry of Science the production will start in the coming days.
10/04/2020 Science vs. COVID-19. Latest news from PAS international partners
The whole world has been searching the ways to effectively fight against COVID-19. The Polish Academy of Sciences (PAS), as well as the international scientific organizations launched special web portals dedicated to COVID-19. We present an overview of interesting websites worth visiting.
09/04/2020 Protecting medical personnel from COVID-19
The Federation of European Academies of Medicine (FEAM) in its statement calls for providing protection of the physical and mental health of medical workers. To improve the functioning of the healthcare system medical staff should also be offered coronavirus antibody tests as soon as possible.
08/04/2020 PAS Institute of Human Genetics joins the fight against COVID-19
The Institute has just launched COVID-19 Diagnostic Laboratory. This is yet another PAS institute that due to epidemiological situation offered its help in carrying out the tests.
06/04/2020 Life in a post-pandemic world: Appeal for systemic changes in health care
The PAS Committee on Demographic Studies backed appeal published by the Institute of Public Health. The authors of the position note that ad hoc solutions need to be embedded in a long-term strategic perspective. Epidemics or natural disasters may now become a sign of the times.
02/04/2020 PAS Institute of Medical Biology engaged in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic
Due to COVID-19 pandemic and high demand for testing at the end of March a new laboratory was opened in Łodź. To facilitate the launch of the new lab our institute provided the necessary equipment and helped develop diagnostic and safety procedures. Additionally, PAS researchers are carrying SARS-CoV-2 testing.
01/04/2020 Chloroquine vs. SARS-CoV-2
Is chloroquine effective in treating patients with COVID-19? Should it be used prophylactically to avoid new coronavirus infection? A stand on this matter was prepared by Polish pharmacy experts.
31/03/2020 The Polish Academy of Sciences against COVID-19
The Polish Academy of Sciences (PAS) is actively engaged in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic. Our researchers perform advisory role for the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. They are involved in international endeavours aimed at inventing effective medical treatment. Our researchers perform a significant number of tests for the presence for coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, thus helping the State Sanitary Inspectorate. Additionally, they have created a prototype of a test for the presence for SARS-CoV-2. Also, one of PAS institutes has invented a device that allows to ventilate two patients using a single respirator. Furthermore, a number of PAS laboratories deliver personal protection equipment to hospitals.
26/03/2020 PAS researchers advising the Polish Ministry of Science concerning the COVID-19 pandemic
A special advisory team was appointed by the Minister of Science and Higher Education on 25 March. Its task? To formulate recommendations on preventing the spread of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. The team of experts includes scientists from the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAS).
25/03/2020 The coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19: frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Should we be wearing masks? Is it possible to catch the virus from a dog? What’s the purpose of a quarantine, since we can test for the virus? When will the epidemic end? The Polish Academy of Sciences has been inundated with questions about the pandemic, so we have collated some answers to the most commonly asked ones. We will update this page whenever new scientific information emerges.
25/03/2020 Support from PAS in the fight against the novel coronavirus
The institutes of the Polish Academy of Sciences are involved at the forefront of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
24/03/2020 The latest on finding a treatment for COVID-19
First, state-of-the-art supercomputers will analyze 500 billion chemical molecules. This will help scientists to select substances with potential therapeutic properties. Next, the experimental part of the project will be launched, with molecular biologists stepping into their labs. We asked Dr. Marcin Nowotny from the International Institute for Molecular and Cellular Biology in Warsaw to tell us more. His team is working on developing an effective therapy for the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.
23/03/2020 One respirator for ventilation of two patients. Polish scientists present their solution to shortage of ventilators
Researchers from the Institute of Biocybernetics and Biomedical Engineering of the Polish Academy of Sciences created a device that helps to ventilate two patients simultaneously by a single respirator. Equipment production has started due to the current epidemic situation.
12/03/2020 The coronavirus as seen by a social psychologist. What’s going on in people’s heads?
When uncertainty really makes itself felt, some people try to fight it by focusing on conspiracy theories. “A sense of losing control, frequently fed by the media or by political sniping, can in extreme cases have even more severe effects than the virus,” writes Dr. Marta Marchlewska from the PAS Institute of Psychology. Read her article to find out more.
28/02/2020 SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus and COVID-19: Key information
Who is most at risk of infection and falling ill? What preventive action can we take? What is the mortality rate? We have prepared answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.
