We have all read headlines about scientists working on new vaccines and doctors running clinical trials. But who are these experts on whom the world relies?
A new social media project aims to answer that question by putting the spotlight on the people behind the headlines. Project Halo celebrates inspiring collaborations between researchers around the world as they strive to develop safe and effective vaccines that could help to end the pandemic.
Follow the scientists working round the clock (and round the world) to help end this pandemic. They’re filming on their phones inside the search for safe and effective vaccines. #teamhalo pic.twitter.com/rS3IkumoQR
— Project Halo (@projecthalo) October 20, 2020
Project Halo was established in collaboration with the United Nations Verified initiative and The Vaccine Confidence Project, with support from Luminate, IKEA Foundation, Global Challenges Foundation and UN Foundation.
Meet @romulismo, a biophysicist at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro who studies the mechanisms that make our bodies develop immunity against the new coronavirus. #teamhalo pic.twitter.com/wZmqo66Lii
— Project Halo (@projecthalo) October 20, 2020
Researchers share short posts about how immunity works and how vaccines are produced.
How quickly can vaccines be produced? Depends what type. Here @AnnaBlakney talks about the RNA vaccine being developed at @ImperialInfect. #teamhalo #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/S3tIgNMbUi
— Project Halo (@projecthalo) October 28, 2020
They tackle the latest issues in ongoing clinical trials and explain the complex new technologies behind some of the vaccines currently in development.
Confused about RNA vaccines? Thanks @AnnaBlakney for the explainer. #teamhalo #covid19 pic.twitter.com/JsnVWjkYDg
— Project Halo (@projecthalo) October 22, 2020
The basic science of vaccination and the immune response, and how this can be applied to make vaccines more effective, are discussed by leading experts from around the world.
Meet Galit, a professor at Harvard specialising in the study of antibodies. Her research on immune responses to vaccine candidates is helping make them more effective in combatting the virus. #teamhalo pic.twitter.com/xFC0LrPaQY
— Project Halo (@projecthalo) October 20, 2020
The project even has its own Poet Laureate!
What makes pus? A lesson taught in poetry courtesy of Halo's poet laureate @ShivPillai4 from Harvard #teamhalo pic.twitter.com/byZzHHNl7f
— Project Halo (@projecthalo) October 26, 2020
Along with educating and entertaining, #TeamHalo helps to show that behind every vaccine trial are real people working around the clock to help end the pandemic.
Beth Robelia
January 10th, 2021
I am a science teacher. Can you please put these on Youtube so I can embed them into my electronic classroom for students. I need embed codes.