IEEE Spectrum March 5, 2020
When DARPA launched its Pandemic Preparedness Platform (P3) program two years ago, the pandemic was theoretical. The P3 program’s plan was to start with a new pathogen and to “develop technology to deliver medical countermeasures in under 60 days. The participating teams have proven they can meet this ambitious timeline in previous trials using the influenza and Zika viruses. The DAPRA approach called for employing antibodies, the proteins that our bodies naturally use to fight infectious diseases, which remain in our bodies after an infection. They have built the tools that enable them to screen for the protective antibodies. Now they have their first sample and are hoping for more in the coming weeks so the real work is beginning…read more.
Credit: DARPA