Program - COVID-19 Research Symposium

All times are EST. Check back for updates.


Day 1: Tuesday, November 17th

Introduction - 9:00am – 9:15am

  • Caroline Attardo Genco, Ph.D., Vice Provost for Research, Tufts University
  • John Wong, M.D., Interim Chief Scientific Officer, Tufts Medical Center

Keynote Address - 9:15am – 10:00am

  • Soumya Swaminathan, M.D., Chief Scientist, World Health Organization
    COVID-19 Pandemic: WHO global overview and updates

    Moderator: Aviva Must, Ph.D., Chair of Public Health and Community Medicine

Lightning Talks - 10:00am – 10:20am

  • Anjuli Fahlberg, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Sociology, Tufts University School of Arts & Sciences
    The Pandemic in Brazil's Favelas: Assessing impacts through collaborative research
  • Gabrielle String, Ph.D., Post-doctoral Scholar, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tufts University School of Engineering
    Applied Research on Disinfection of Surfaces and Hands to Prevent SARS-CoV-2 Transmission

    Moderator: Merry Fitzpatrick, Ph.D., Sr. Researcher, Feinstein International Center, Friedman School of Nutrition, Science and Policy, Tufts University

Stretch Break - 10:20am – 10:25am 

Tufts International Partners Panel - 10:25am – 11:10am

  • Gagandeep (Cherry) Kang, Ph.D., Professor of Microbiology, at the Wellcome Trust Research Laboratory, Division of Gastrointestinal Sciences at the Christian Medical College (CMC) in Vellore, India
    Covid-19 Serosurveys in India
  • Aron Troen, Ph.D., Associate Professor, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
    The COVID Trifecta in Israel: Health, economics and pandemic politics

    Moderator: Honorine Ward, M.D., Professor of Medicine, Division of Geographic Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Tufts Medical Center

Lightning Talks - 11:10am – 11:40am

  • Tess Gannaway, D.V.M., PhD Student Department of Infectious Disease & Global Health Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University
    Examining the Sex & Gender-based Differences, Risks, Impacts and Consequences of COVID-19
  • Erica Fuhrmeister, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tufts University School of Engineering
    Longitudinal Monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 RNA on High-touch Surfaces in a Community Setting
  • Alexandra Simas, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow, Immunology, Tufts University School of Medicine
    Pooled Screening Strategies for the Reopening of PK-12 Schools in Massachusetts

    Moderator: Jonathan Runstadler, Ph.D., D.V.M., M.S., Professor, Interim Chair of Infectious Disease and Global Health

Panel Discussion: Biomedical Aspects of the Pandemic - 11:40am - 12:25pm

  • Athena Papas, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor, Diagnostic Sciences, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine
    The Need for Rapid Test in Dentistry
  • Charles Mace, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Chemistry, Tufts University School of Arts & Sciences
    Accelerating Innovations in Diagnostics During a Pandemic
  • Amanda Martinot, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Infectious Disease and Global Health, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University
    Comparative Pathology of COVID-19 Infection in Humans, Macaques, and Hamsters
  • Alexander Poltorak, Ph.D., Professor and Interim Chair of Immunology, Tufts University School of Medicine
    Immune Responses in COVID-19

    Moderator: Alice Tang, Ph.D., Professor of Public Health and Community Medicine, Director for Tufts Center for Global Health, Tufts University School of Medicine

Closing Remarks - 12:25pm – 12:30pm

  • Pilar Alcaide, Ph.D., Kenneth and JoAnn G. Wellner Professor, Tufts University

Lunchtime Mixer Event - 12:30pm – 1:50pm (Tufts internal and invitation only)


Day 2: Wednesday, November 18th

Introduction - 9:00am – 9:15am

  • Caroline Attardo Genco, Ph.D., Vice Provost for Research, Tufts University

Keynote Address - 9:15am – 10:00am

  • Eric Rubin, M.D., Ph.D., Editor-in-Chief, New England Journal of Medicine
    Covid-19: Where are we and where are we going?

         Moderator: Caroline Attardo Genco, Ph.D., Vice Provost for Research

Panel Discussion: Cultural and Political Impacts of Disinformation in the Pandemic - 10:00am – 10:40am

  • Media guest panelists:
    • Roxanne Khamsi, Science Writer and Editor
    • Apoorva Mandavilli, Health and Science Reporter, New York Times
  • Bhaskar Chakravorti, Ph.D., Dean of Global Business, The Fletcher School at Tufts University
  • Shira Doron, M.D., Hospital Epidemiologist, Director, Antimicrobial Stewardship, Division of Geographic Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Tufts Medical Center, and Associate Professor of Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine
  • Eric Rubin, M.D., Ph.D., Editor-in-Chief, New England Journal of Medicine
  • Brian Schaffner, Ph.D., Newhouse Professor of Civic Studies, Tufts University School of Arts & Sciences and Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life

    Moderator: Joshua Finkelstein, Ph.D., M.P.H., Deputy Director, Allen Discovery Center at Tufts University

Stretch Break - 10:40am – 10:45am

Tufts International Partners Panel - 10:45am – 11:30am

  • Eduardo Ortega Barria, M.D., VP & Head, Clinical R&D and Medical Affairs of GlaxoSmithKline (Panama/Latin America)
    How Will a New COVID Vaccine Be Deployed? International Perspectives: The case study of Panama
  • Peter Chang, M.D., President, Asian Health Literacy Association; Vice President, International Health Literacy Association; Adjunct Professor, Tufts University School of Medicine; former Ombudsman, Taiwan. 
    The Roles of Health Literacy Around the Globe Make the Pandemic Differently

    Moderator: Joyce Sackey, M.D., Associate Vice Provost and Chief Diversity Officer

Lightning Talks - 11:30am – 12:00pm

  • Felipe Dias, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Sociology, Tufts University School of Arts & Sciences
    The Motherhood Penalty and the Fatherhood Premium in Employment During COVID-19: Evidence from the United States
  • Susan Landau, Ph.D., Bridge Professor of Cyber Security and Policy, Fletcher School and School of Engineering. 
    Contact-Tracing Apps and Public Health
  • Tamara Vesel, M.D., Chief of Division of Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, Tufts Medical Center
    Changes in Utilization and Perceptions of Palliative Care Among Physicians and Hospital Leadership at Tufts Medical Center and Community Spiritual/Religious Leaders During the COVID-19 Pandemic- Preliminary Findings

    Moderator: Laura Corlin, Ph.D., M.S., Assistant Professor of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine

Lunchtime Mixer Event - 12:00pm – 1:00pm (Tufts internal and invitation only)

Panel Discussion: Equity in the COVID-19 Pandemic - 1:00pm – 1:45pm

  • Laura Corlin, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine
  • Shan Jiang, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning, Tufts University School of Arts & Sciences
  • William Masters, Ph.D., Professor, Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy
  • Rosemary CR Taylor, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Sociology and Community Health, Tufts University School of Arts & Sciences
  • Natasha Warikoo, Ph.D., Professor of Sociology, Tufts University School of Arts & Sciences
  • Alysse Wurcel, M.D., M.S., Assistant Professor and Attending Physician, Geographic Medicine and Infectious Disease, Tufts Medical Center

    Moderator: Peter Levine, Ph.D., Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Lincoln Filene Professor of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life, and Research Professor in Philosophy, Tufts School of Arts & Sciences

Closing Remarks - 1:45pm – 2:00pm 

  • Caroline Attardo Genco, Ph.D., Vice Provost for Research, Tufts University
  • Krishna Kumar, Ph.D., Robinson Professor of Chemistry, Tufts University