Pandemic Response

In February 2020 scientists worldwide were duplicating efforts and swimming in data as they worked to mitigate the avalanche of problems associated with the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Using Collective Intelligence to Crowd-Source Priorities

With a reputation as a problem solver to the global scientific community, MilliporeSigma wanted to utilize its resources to quickly mobilize, identify and meet the high impact, unmet needs.

I built a program in partnership with MIT to conduct a 3-week research sprint with a diverse group of 180 global leaders in science stakeholders. The challenge question was this:

How can we develop pandemic resilience—the ability for society to recover quickly from global disease outbreaks—both in resolving the current COVID-19 pandemic and in building the public health and other infrastructure to prepare for future pandemics?  

We activated the expert group—or ‘Supermind’—to share their ideas on how to address this challenge in five domain areas: (1) diagnostics and monitoring; (2) viral transmission control; (3) therapies and vaccines; (4) validating, sharing, and communicating scientific insights; and (5) pandemic preparedness.  

Catalyst Conversation and Knowledge Sharing

  • Supermind Report

    Supermind Report findings were released in five chapter installments with distribution through key opinion leaders and online social engagement. I served as a senior content editor for the report.

  • Catalyst Conversations

    A series of virtual panel discussions illuminated the findings and drove robust Q&A discussions, internally and externally. I concepted, scoped, built the team, mentored and oversaw production for the series. The team included a blended team of science innovation team leaders, academic researchers, bioinformatics and communications.

  • Knowledge Sharing Internal Hub

    To aid with the flow of knowledge and solutions, I built a biweekly covid coffee break led by a rotation of scientists. This open forum grew from an initial group of just four to more than 40 participants and became the birthplace for numerous use case ideas for unmet needs.