Here is what our researchers are saying about COVID-19 by News@Northeastern March 9, 2020 Share Mastodon Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Northeastern’s researchers are hard at work trying to learn more about the COVID-19 pandemic. Below you can find News@Northeastern’s coverage of their work as well coverage from other major media outlets. Will the COVID-19 vaccine become an annual dose like the flu shot? How will it work? by Cynthia McCormick Hibbert January 23, 2023 Twitter Facebook The Food and Drug Administration wants to streamline the COVID-19 vaccination process. Officials meeting this week will consider simplifying the process with annually updated shots to cover COVID-19 and anticipated variants. Read more Can 'digital traces' from internet searches and social media predict outbreaks of COVID-19? by Cynthia McCormick Hibbert January 18, 2023 Twitter Facebook Researchers, including Northeastern’s Mauricio Santillana, say machine learning applied to digital data streams will serve as a real-time early warning system for sharp increases in COVID-19 cases at the county level. Read more New highly transmissible COVID-19 subvariant won’t swamp US hospitals, Northeastern experts predict by Cynthia McCormick Hibbert January 13, 2023 Twitter Facebook XXB.1.5, the new Omicron subvariant, now accounts for nearly all COVID-19 cases in New England and New York and is spreading across the country. Northeastern experts expect the U.S. will ride the wave without being swamped by hospitalizations and deaths. Read more Is it appropriate to discuss inflation when asking your boss for a raise? by Tanner Stening January 6, 2023 Twitter Facebook In these tricky economic times, asking for a raise may seem even more daunting than it would have even a year ago. How is inflation influencing these conversations between employer and employee? Ravit Heskiau-Ludwig, associate teaching professor of management and organizational development at the D’Amore-McKim School of Business, offers some insight. Read more Half of China’s population may get infected with COVID-19 in next few months by Cynthia McCormick Hibbert December 22, 2022 Twitter Facebook Professor Alessandro Vespignani, director of Northeastern’s Network Science Institute, says the surge of Omicron-type infections threatens to overload China’s hospitals and aggravate supply chain problems. Read more Is it safe to split adult medications in half for children? by Cynthia McCormick Hibbert December 9, 2022 Twitter Facebook With acetaminophen and ibuprofen hard to find, some parents are asking if they can cut down adult medications to give their children. Brandon Dionne, associate clinical professor in Northeastern’s School of Pharmacy, urges caution. Read more Half of US adults say they had COVID-19, but only a fraction were officially diagnosed, new research shows by Tanner Stening December 9, 2022 Twitter Facebook Among the key findings of a Northeastern-led survey, researchers also found that self-diagnosing via at-home, or rapid, testing has far eclipsed medical testing for the virus, meaning official reporting is missing “a significant number of positive cases” at this late stage of the pandemic. Read more Northeastern researcher finds new way to prevent the common cold (and maybe COVID-19) by Ian Thomsen December 6, 2022 Twitter Facebook A new study focuses on the crucial question of why people are more vulnerable to catching colds during the months of winter. The findings could be tested against a variety of pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, says Northeastern professor Mansoor Amiji. Read more Republicans had higher COVID-19 death rates in the first year of the pandemic, new research says by Cody Mello-Klein December 5, 2022 Twitter Facebook A Northeastern University researcher found that although deaths in Democratic areas of the U.S. were higher at the very beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, by the winter of 2020, people in Republican-leaning regions were dying in much higher numbers. Read more Are combined COVID-flu vaccines, or universal flu shots, really a good idea? Here’s what you need to know by Tanner Stening November 29, 2022 Twitter Facebook Pfizer and Moderna are currently developing and testing various “combined” vaccines to guard against diseases such as COVID-19, the flu and RSV using only one injection. A Northeastern expert discusses the potential benefits of such combination drugs. Read more ‘We are in a much better place.’ Why experts predict a milder winter for COVID-19 by Cynthia McCormick Hibbert November 17, 2022 Twitter Facebook Northeastern experts say promising results from the bivalent booster combined with greater immunity in the general population means the coronavirus may pack less of a seasonal wallop in the coming months. Read more Why it's not too late to get your flu shot by Cynthia McCormick Hibbert November 10, 2022 Twitter Facebook Northeastern experts predict this year’s flu shot will be a good match for circulating strains and explain why getting the vaccine before Thanksgiving is the best idea. Read more Women could be at higher risk for long COVID, according to new research by Cody Mello-Klein November 8, 2022 Twitter Facebook The results of a survey series published by a team of researchers, including Northeastern’s Mauricio Santillana, found that long COVID was more prevalent in women and older adults and that vaccines still mitigated the risk of long-term effects. Read more How COVID-19 colliding with flu season and surge of RSV created ‘tripledemic’ by Cynthia McCormick Hibbert November 1, 2022 Twitter Facebook Northeastern experts explain what is behind the triple whammy—masking and social isolation allowed immunities to common viruses to fade—why it’s hitting now and why next year might not be as bad. Read more Got COVID-19? Wait a few weeks for the updated booster, Northeastern experts say by Cynthia McCormick Hibbert September 2, 2022 Twitter Facebook Newly approved “bivalent” vaccine boosters by Moderna and Pfizer target Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 as well as original COVID-19. Experts say people who have recently been vaccinated against COVID or infected should wait to get the shot. Read more Mathematical model predicts human mobility in response to storms and pandemics by Cynthia McCormick Hibbert August 29, 2022 Twitter Facebook Research from a team co-led by Qi Ryan Wang, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at Northeastern, could lead to better emergency responses, especially in low-income communities. Read more Study finds life-saving COVID-19 treatments didn’t make it to US patients recently infected by Tanner Stening August 24, 2022 Twitter Facebook David Lazer, university distinguished professor of political science and computer science, says the new research points to “systemic failures” in providing patients with Paxlovid and Molnupiravir. Read more COVID-19 Q&A with Northeastern Chancellor Ken Henderson: Campus life will continue as normal by Cynthia McCormick Hibbert August 9, 2022 Twitter Facebook The university’s requirement for students, faculty and staff to be fully vaccinated and boosted will remain in place, and campus life will continue with no restrictions. Read more Rapid rise in monkeypox spurs calls for better tests, more vaccine doses by Cynthia McCormick Hibbert August 4, 2022 Twitter Facebook Several Northeastern University professors call for a more robust response to the latest virus spreading in the U.S. and Europe and beyond. Read more The science behind President Biden's 'rebound COVID' by Cynthia McCormick Hibbert August 2, 2022 Twitter Facebook With 10% of Paxlovid patients rebounding, should length of antiviral course be extended? Northeastern University professors weigh in. Read more Northeastern's Life Sciences Testing Center is helping Boston biotech develop best practices for monkeypox testing by Cynthia McCormick Hibbert July 27, 2022 Twitter Facebook Jared Auclair’s lab is gearing up to help protect the U.S. from emerging pathogens with a new focus on biosurveillance. The likely first step? Testing samples collected at airports and other places of entry for monkeypox. Read more The teeny, tiny ticks that cause the most Lyme disease are out by Cynthia McCormick Hibbert July 12, 2022 Twitter Facebook The nymphal deer ticks that are out now are less likely to carry the pathogens that cause Lyme disease than the adult ticks, but they are so hard to spot—and therefore remove—they are responsible for most cases of human infection. Prevention is key. Read more Want to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Boston? Northeastern researchers have built a database by Tanner Stening June 24, 2022 Twitter Facebook “We identified every data source that we could get our hands on—from administrative data to social media posts,” says Northeastern professor Dan O’Brien, who leads the Boston Area Research Initiative that oversees the data project. Read more Northeastern researchers use machine learning to identify US patients with long COVID by Tanner Stening May 31, 2022 Twitter Facebook A data harmonization undertaken by Northeastern researchers drew from a variety of information sources to construct a picture of what long COVID looks like in the U.S. Read more Parents who forego COVID-19 vaccine for their children are less likely to seek information on it, study shows by Tanner Stening May 20, 2022 Twitter Facebook Researchers at the Covid States Project sought to tease out where parents of both vaccinated and unvaccinated children get their information about the COVID-19 vaccine and matters affecting their children’s health. Northeastern experts explain their findings in a new survey. Read more Experts weigh in: Is monkeypox the next COVID-19? Here's what we know. by Ian Thomsen May 20, 2022 Twitter Facebook The virus has unexpectedly spread to Europe, Australia, and North America, with the first U.S. patient undergoing treatment in Boston. “But it’s not something to panic about at this point,” says Brandon Dionne, an associate clinical professor in Northeastern’s department of pharmacy and health systems sciences. Read more Your Google searches and Tweets might help forecast the next disease outbreak by Eva Botkin-Kowacki May 17, 2022 Twitter Facebook People leave a trail of breadcrumbs when they navigate the digital world, offering clues about what is happening in their lives—including their health. Northeastern’s Mauricio Santillana is using machine learning algorithms to turn those clues into an early warning system for disease outbreaks. Read more Do at-home COVID-19 tests expire? by Molly Callahan May 9, 2022 Twitter Facebook The short answer is yes, says Jared Auclair, director of the Biopharmaceutical Analysis Training Lab at Northeastern. Here’s a look at why different tests have different expiration windows, and the best way to store them at home. Read more Are we out of the pandemic? What Fauci meant by ‘a transitional phase’ by Tanner Stening May 2, 2022 Twitter Facebook While Dr. Anthony Fauci’s comments last week signal hope that the U.S. and other nations could finally be moving into a post-pandemic world, officials should proceed with caution, Northeastern experts say. Read more Contracting COVID-19 might increase your risk of Type 1 diabetes by Eva Botkin-Kowacki April 28, 2022 Twitter Facebook A study of more than 27 million people across the U.S. has found a link between COVID-19 infections and Type 1 diabetes. Northeastern’s Trenton Honda says, “Our interest is really looking at the question, ‘Are there going to be hidden costs, even among those who are not at high risk from COVID itself, because of COVID, later on?’” Read more The official count of COVID-19 shots in older adults is distorted. What’s going on? by Molly Callahan April 22, 2022 Twitter Facebook According to analysis by researchers at Northeastern and partner institutions, the CDC counts, when compared with census data, indicate that in 26 states, more than 100% of people above age 65 have gotten at least one shot. What went wrong? David Lazer, university distinguished professor, explains. Read more Has judicial activism taken over the courts? A deeper look at the decision to overturn Biden’s mask mandate by Tanner Stening April 21, 2022 Twitter Facebook The ruling sparked criticism from legal experts, some of whom contend that U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle misunderstood the law and, therefore, erred in her reasoning. Wendy Parmet, director of Northeastern’s Center for Health Policy and Law, breaks down the decision and its implications. Read more Moderna’s next mission? Injecting hope–and healing–in Africa by Molly Callahan April 14, 2022 Twitter Facebook The Cambridge-based biotech pioneer has plans to open a $500 million facility in Kenya and deliver 500 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine yearly in Africa, Moderna’s Patrick Bergstedt said at a Northeastern forum Wednesday run by the university’s Africa Global Initiative. Read more
Will the COVID-19 vaccine become an annual dose like the flu shot? How will it work? by Cynthia McCormick Hibbert January 23, 2023 Twitter Facebook The Food and Drug Administration wants to streamline the COVID-19 vaccination process. Officials meeting this week will consider simplifying the process with annually updated shots to cover COVID-19 and anticipated variants. Read more
Can 'digital traces' from internet searches and social media predict outbreaks of COVID-19? by Cynthia McCormick Hibbert January 18, 2023 Twitter Facebook Researchers, including Northeastern’s Mauricio Santillana, say machine learning applied to digital data streams will serve as a real-time early warning system for sharp increases in COVID-19 cases at the county level. Read more
New highly transmissible COVID-19 subvariant won’t swamp US hospitals, Northeastern experts predict by Cynthia McCormick Hibbert January 13, 2023 Twitter Facebook XXB.1.5, the new Omicron subvariant, now accounts for nearly all COVID-19 cases in New England and New York and is spreading across the country. Northeastern experts expect the U.S. will ride the wave without being swamped by hospitalizations and deaths. Read more
Is it appropriate to discuss inflation when asking your boss for a raise? by Tanner Stening January 6, 2023 Twitter Facebook In these tricky economic times, asking for a raise may seem even more daunting than it would have even a year ago. How is inflation influencing these conversations between employer and employee? Ravit Heskiau-Ludwig, associate teaching professor of management and organizational development at the D’Amore-McKim School of Business, offers some insight. Read more
Half of China’s population may get infected with COVID-19 in next few months by Cynthia McCormick Hibbert December 22, 2022 Twitter Facebook Professor Alessandro Vespignani, director of Northeastern’s Network Science Institute, says the surge of Omicron-type infections threatens to overload China’s hospitals and aggravate supply chain problems. Read more
Is it safe to split adult medications in half for children? by Cynthia McCormick Hibbert December 9, 2022 Twitter Facebook With acetaminophen and ibuprofen hard to find, some parents are asking if they can cut down adult medications to give their children. Brandon Dionne, associate clinical professor in Northeastern’s School of Pharmacy, urges caution. Read more
Half of US adults say they had COVID-19, but only a fraction were officially diagnosed, new research shows by Tanner Stening December 9, 2022 Twitter Facebook Among the key findings of a Northeastern-led survey, researchers also found that self-diagnosing via at-home, or rapid, testing has far eclipsed medical testing for the virus, meaning official reporting is missing “a significant number of positive cases” at this late stage of the pandemic. Read more
Northeastern researcher finds new way to prevent the common cold (and maybe COVID-19) by Ian Thomsen December 6, 2022 Twitter Facebook A new study focuses on the crucial question of why people are more vulnerable to catching colds during the months of winter. The findings could be tested against a variety of pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, says Northeastern professor Mansoor Amiji. Read more
Republicans had higher COVID-19 death rates in the first year of the pandemic, new research says by Cody Mello-Klein December 5, 2022 Twitter Facebook A Northeastern University researcher found that although deaths in Democratic areas of the U.S. were higher at the very beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, by the winter of 2020, people in Republican-leaning regions were dying in much higher numbers. Read more
Are combined COVID-flu vaccines, or universal flu shots, really a good idea? Here’s what you need to know by Tanner Stening November 29, 2022 Twitter Facebook Pfizer and Moderna are currently developing and testing various “combined” vaccines to guard against diseases such as COVID-19, the flu and RSV using only one injection. A Northeastern expert discusses the potential benefits of such combination drugs. Read more
‘We are in a much better place.’ Why experts predict a milder winter for COVID-19 by Cynthia McCormick Hibbert November 17, 2022 Twitter Facebook Northeastern experts say promising results from the bivalent booster combined with greater immunity in the general population means the coronavirus may pack less of a seasonal wallop in the coming months. Read more
Why it's not too late to get your flu shot by Cynthia McCormick Hibbert November 10, 2022 Twitter Facebook Northeastern experts predict this year’s flu shot will be a good match for circulating strains and explain why getting the vaccine before Thanksgiving is the best idea. Read more
Women could be at higher risk for long COVID, according to new research by Cody Mello-Klein November 8, 2022 Twitter Facebook The results of a survey series published by a team of researchers, including Northeastern’s Mauricio Santillana, found that long COVID was more prevalent in women and older adults and that vaccines still mitigated the risk of long-term effects. Read more
How COVID-19 colliding with flu season and surge of RSV created ‘tripledemic’ by Cynthia McCormick Hibbert November 1, 2022 Twitter Facebook Northeastern experts explain what is behind the triple whammy—masking and social isolation allowed immunities to common viruses to fade—why it’s hitting now and why next year might not be as bad. Read more
Got COVID-19? Wait a few weeks for the updated booster, Northeastern experts say by Cynthia McCormick Hibbert September 2, 2022 Twitter Facebook Newly approved “bivalent” vaccine boosters by Moderna and Pfizer target Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 as well as original COVID-19. Experts say people who have recently been vaccinated against COVID or infected should wait to get the shot. Read more
Mathematical model predicts human mobility in response to storms and pandemics by Cynthia McCormick Hibbert August 29, 2022 Twitter Facebook Research from a team co-led by Qi Ryan Wang, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at Northeastern, could lead to better emergency responses, especially in low-income communities. Read more
Study finds life-saving COVID-19 treatments didn’t make it to US patients recently infected by Tanner Stening August 24, 2022 Twitter Facebook David Lazer, university distinguished professor of political science and computer science, says the new research points to “systemic failures” in providing patients with Paxlovid and Molnupiravir. Read more
COVID-19 Q&A with Northeastern Chancellor Ken Henderson: Campus life will continue as normal by Cynthia McCormick Hibbert August 9, 2022 Twitter Facebook The university’s requirement for students, faculty and staff to be fully vaccinated and boosted will remain in place, and campus life will continue with no restrictions. Read more
Rapid rise in monkeypox spurs calls for better tests, more vaccine doses by Cynthia McCormick Hibbert August 4, 2022 Twitter Facebook Several Northeastern University professors call for a more robust response to the latest virus spreading in the U.S. and Europe and beyond. Read more
The science behind President Biden's 'rebound COVID' by Cynthia McCormick Hibbert August 2, 2022 Twitter Facebook With 10% of Paxlovid patients rebounding, should length of antiviral course be extended? Northeastern University professors weigh in. Read more
Northeastern's Life Sciences Testing Center is helping Boston biotech develop best practices for monkeypox testing by Cynthia McCormick Hibbert July 27, 2022 Twitter Facebook Jared Auclair’s lab is gearing up to help protect the U.S. from emerging pathogens with a new focus on biosurveillance. The likely first step? Testing samples collected at airports and other places of entry for monkeypox. Read more
The teeny, tiny ticks that cause the most Lyme disease are out by Cynthia McCormick Hibbert July 12, 2022 Twitter Facebook The nymphal deer ticks that are out now are less likely to carry the pathogens that cause Lyme disease than the adult ticks, but they are so hard to spot—and therefore remove—they are responsible for most cases of human infection. Prevention is key. Read more
Want to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Boston? Northeastern researchers have built a database by Tanner Stening June 24, 2022 Twitter Facebook “We identified every data source that we could get our hands on—from administrative data to social media posts,” says Northeastern professor Dan O’Brien, who leads the Boston Area Research Initiative that oversees the data project. Read more
Northeastern researchers use machine learning to identify US patients with long COVID by Tanner Stening May 31, 2022 Twitter Facebook A data harmonization undertaken by Northeastern researchers drew from a variety of information sources to construct a picture of what long COVID looks like in the U.S. Read more
Parents who forego COVID-19 vaccine for their children are less likely to seek information on it, study shows by Tanner Stening May 20, 2022 Twitter Facebook Researchers at the Covid States Project sought to tease out where parents of both vaccinated and unvaccinated children get their information about the COVID-19 vaccine and matters affecting their children’s health. Northeastern experts explain their findings in a new survey. Read more
Experts weigh in: Is monkeypox the next COVID-19? Here's what we know. by Ian Thomsen May 20, 2022 Twitter Facebook The virus has unexpectedly spread to Europe, Australia, and North America, with the first U.S. patient undergoing treatment in Boston. “But it’s not something to panic about at this point,” says Brandon Dionne, an associate clinical professor in Northeastern’s department of pharmacy and health systems sciences. Read more
Your Google searches and Tweets might help forecast the next disease outbreak by Eva Botkin-Kowacki May 17, 2022 Twitter Facebook People leave a trail of breadcrumbs when they navigate the digital world, offering clues about what is happening in their lives—including their health. Northeastern’s Mauricio Santillana is using machine learning algorithms to turn those clues into an early warning system for disease outbreaks. Read more
Do at-home COVID-19 tests expire? by Molly Callahan May 9, 2022 Twitter Facebook The short answer is yes, says Jared Auclair, director of the Biopharmaceutical Analysis Training Lab at Northeastern. Here’s a look at why different tests have different expiration windows, and the best way to store them at home. Read more
Are we out of the pandemic? What Fauci meant by ‘a transitional phase’ by Tanner Stening May 2, 2022 Twitter Facebook While Dr. Anthony Fauci’s comments last week signal hope that the U.S. and other nations could finally be moving into a post-pandemic world, officials should proceed with caution, Northeastern experts say. Read more
Contracting COVID-19 might increase your risk of Type 1 diabetes by Eva Botkin-Kowacki April 28, 2022 Twitter Facebook A study of more than 27 million people across the U.S. has found a link between COVID-19 infections and Type 1 diabetes. Northeastern’s Trenton Honda says, “Our interest is really looking at the question, ‘Are there going to be hidden costs, even among those who are not at high risk from COVID itself, because of COVID, later on?’” Read more
The official count of COVID-19 shots in older adults is distorted. What’s going on? by Molly Callahan April 22, 2022 Twitter Facebook According to analysis by researchers at Northeastern and partner institutions, the CDC counts, when compared with census data, indicate that in 26 states, more than 100% of people above age 65 have gotten at least one shot. What went wrong? David Lazer, university distinguished professor, explains. Read more
Has judicial activism taken over the courts? A deeper look at the decision to overturn Biden’s mask mandate by Tanner Stening April 21, 2022 Twitter Facebook The ruling sparked criticism from legal experts, some of whom contend that U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle misunderstood the law and, therefore, erred in her reasoning. Wendy Parmet, director of Northeastern’s Center for Health Policy and Law, breaks down the decision and its implications. Read more
Moderna’s next mission? Injecting hope–and healing–in Africa by Molly Callahan April 14, 2022 Twitter Facebook The Cambridge-based biotech pioneer has plans to open a $500 million facility in Kenya and deliver 500 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine yearly in Africa, Moderna’s Patrick Bergstedt said at a Northeastern forum Wednesday run by the university’s Africa Global Initiative. Read more