Join C2ST for our 5th Science from the Front-lines program and learn how the severity and manifestation of COVID-19 symptoms are impacted by gender!
Gender differences in COVID-19 disease severity have been described in multiple countries, with reports indicating that men often experience more severe disease and greater mortality. Dr. Kovats will summarize available information about the observed gender differences in COVID-19 severity and outline possible social and biological explanations for this gender disparity. One hypothesis is that men and women differ in aspects of the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection. After a brief primer on the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system, Dr. Kovats will review the evidence for sex differences in immune function in humans and animal models and describe how androgens and estrogens modulate immunity. She will explain how COVID-19 patient blood samples might be used to understand the gender differences in immune responses at the molecular and cellular level.
Join C2ST and our panel of local experts for a panel discussion on health inequalities and how they are contributing to COVID-19 rates. Across the United States, tracking COVID-19 has indicated disproportionate rates affecting African American and Black communities. For Chicago, this means taking a closer look at the experiences of Southside and Westside communities. While research is in the initial stages, examining existing inequalities and what they mean for a community’s health provides insight into this ongoing issue.
Subtítulos en español disponibles The shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) and the increasing demand has been front and center in the struggle to contain COVID-19. PPE such as masks and face shields are essential for healthcare workers to protect themselves, their patients, and the public by reducing the chances of transmission. Although industry providers have ramped up production, local makers and makerspaces are also addressing this ongoing issue. By utilizing open-source templates, local makers from DePaul’s Idea Realization Lab and Illinois PPE Network are 3D printing PPE from their own homes and providing this essential equipment to those who need it most. In our third installment in the Science from the Frontlines series, join C2ST and Jayson Margalus, Faculty Director of the Idea Realization Lab, for a deeper look into the makers and their work to develop and deliver PPE all across Illinois.
Subtítulos en español disponibles Dr. Karla Satchell has been a frequent name in the news as she leads a team of researchers to examine the atomic structure of Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19), an integral step in devising a means for fighting COVID-19 as the virus continues to spread. Satchell leads the Center for Structural Genomics of Infectious Diseases, a consortium of nine labs at eight schools collaborating on the effort to better understand and devise a means for fighting the continued spread of COVID-19. The team is mapping out the proteins of the virus with the aim of finding a weak spot where medication can intervene and stop the virus from replicating in humans.
(Subtítulos en español disponibles) Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has brought the world to a standstill over the last months, weeks, and days. As fear and panic increase among members of the public, it is more important than ever that accurate information about this novel virus reaches the concerned public. To assist in this important endeavor to ensure accurate information from valid, qualified authorities on COVID-19 reaches the public, the Chicago Council on Science and Technology will host a series of free online lectures with Q&A segments. Hear from and ask questions of Chicago’s esteemed researchers who are on the frontlines of COVID-19 research on topics ranging from vaccines to viral biology to social implications. As always, we are here to provide scientifically accurate information and make it accessible to all. In our first program of the series, Alicia Frasier, MPH, of RTI International will discuss a survey that she helped to create that looks at early findings of Americans’ knowledge of the Coronavirus and support for community mitigation strategies. Frasier will discuss the implications of this survey and how it could help inform next steps for public health officials, local and regional governments, and the public at large. Like our Content?
