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From sleep-deprived scientists who work round the clock to tech wizards, lawyers, accountants, veterinarians and the man who was tasked with raising $ 23.5 million in record time.
Meet the 105 people racing to build the UQ vaccine
For the first time, we can reveal the 105 extraordinary people who have been behind the scenes making extraordinary sacrifices and offering their specialist skills to contribute to the COVID-19 vaccine development team at the University of Queensland.
These are our hidden heroes.
COMMENT BELOW TO THANK OUR VACCINE HEROES
Everyone says they have been honored and privileged to be part of the story in the making – the search for a life-saving vaccine branded “made in Queensland”.
For some it was their work, and for others their efforts were voluntary.
There were those who were more than thrilled to be involved as they had worked all their lives studying and researching for this very moment.
More than 100 people are part of the team that helped the UQ COVID-19 vaccine become a reality.
The migrants entered, wanting to give back to the country they now call home, and the young children emptied their pocket money cans and sent their money along with greeting letters and creative artwork.
It all served to help lift the spirits of the men and women in white coats in a corner of St Lucia, Brisbane, who are working to save the world.
Ben and Karen Hughes and their children Norah, 10, and Elliot, 7.
Ben and Karen Hughes are UQ scientists and have two children Norah, 10 and Elliot 7. Together they have over 35 years of experience in biopharmaceutical research, development, technology transfer and commercialization.
“We were tailored for this role. It was extremely coincidental that we decided to return from the US to Brisbane at the end of 2019. We had just started at UQ and immediately entered the vaccination program,” Ms Hughes said.
“We exchange ideas with each other or discuss business matters, both at work and at home, so work is always” active “at a certain level.
“During the initial lockout period, we had extremely busy timelines and collaborated for days at work, teaching the children at home and holding video meetings with collaborators in Europe or the United States.
“It was difficult to stop thinking about the vaccine as our meetings and work results merged into home life,” he said.
Ben and Karen Hughes made many sacrifices in 2020 to help with the development of a COVID-19 vaccine. Their children Norah, 10, and Elliot, 7, did their part.
Norah and Elliot were fascinated by the vaccine work and super proud of their parents.
“They routinely ask if we (and they) will be the first in line to get the vaccine when it’s ready. They are used to us being in meetings at home and during block Elliot would sit silently in the background taking very nice notes and scientific shorthand diagrams. of viral molecules and stages of the process we were talking about.
“He still asks us today how SARS-CoV-2 is doing?” she said.
The couple is stimulated by getting to know people who have not survived the virus.
UQ virologist Dr Kirsty Short. Image: Liam Kidston
Another cog in the wheel was UQ’s Evan Morgan who worked like never before to help raise the $ 23.5 million needed to accelerate the vaccine.
“This was certainly the highlight of my life. It was something special to be involved in such an important project,” said Mr. Morgan, of the Vaccine Fundraising Project.
“It was touching to see so many community members send $ 10 or what they could afford when they realized the need for a vaccine.
“The children sent money, some people donated a few thousand, but one of the first big donations was from the A2 Milk company which gave $ 500,000 in the first few days,” she said.
The world may someday thank the UQ vaccine team Prof Paul Young, Assoc Prof Keith Chappell, Prof Trent Munro, and Dr Daniel Watterson for developing a vaccine that stops the COVID-19 killer on his trail.
All eyes are on these brilliant scientists who are at the forefront and at the heart of the war, but thanks today go to these 105 soldiers who emerged from the darkness of 2020 offering a brilliant spirit of unified unity.
Professor Paul Young.
“We were touched to receive stories from school kids emptying their piggy banks to donate to our research effort. We have our own wall of inspiration just outside the lab where we have published all the letters that wish us well. The team and I just can “Don’t thank our donors and supporters enough for everything they’ve done. They have made a real contribution to addressing COVID-19, ”Prof Young told The Courier-Mail.
Dr. Dan Watterson.
Since January 10, the day the UQ team had their first formal meeting with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) to discuss the novel coronavirus, it was at full speed.
The next day their molecular clamp technology was put into action in the development of the candidate vaccine.
Professor Trent Munro.
From that day on, the team felt the arms of Queenslanders and other Australian heroes hold them up and cheer them on.
“The generosity and commitment I have witnessed has been nothing short of amazing. And this huge group of collaborators is not yet everyone involved. I would like to absolutely thank everyone who is part of this larger team and the journey. in progress, ”said Professor Young.
“Together, we worked day and night, on all fronts. We had team members completing lab work, running trials, meeting legal and regulatory requirements, raising money to boost vaccine production, you name it – that was it. on deck. I couldn’t be more proud of this team, “said the scientist.
Workers in the protein laboratory.
When the research team had to recruit 96 volunteers within days, thousands of Queenslanders blocked the phone lines of their Nucleus Networks partners who were conducting the trials.
“Volunteers wanted to help people around the world by volunteering to make a COVID-19 vaccine a reality. I imagine many of these people have lost hours of sleep this year,” said Prof Young.
As work continues with the hope of a UQ vaccine launch in the middle of next year, it has been announced that Australian vaccine manufacturer CSL is on track to provide the first doses of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine by the end. of this year.
The University of Queensland has partnered with the Queensland Government, the Australian Government, CSL, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), TetraQ, Nucleus Networks, CSIRO, the WHO Influenza Reference and Research Center, ANU , Viroclinics, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, and UQ’s UniQuest.
In the words of Assoc Prof Keith Chappell “I have never been part of a bigger team and we have never had so much work to do”.
COMMENT BELOW TO THANK OUR VACCINE HEROES
Originally published as The Heroes Behind the Scenes of UQ’s COVID Vaccination Effort
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