Pardis Sabeti: Can Math Beat Disease? | Nat Geo Live

for the last several years my lab has

for the last several years my lab has been focused in a pursuit it’s to use

been focused in a pursuit it’s to use

been focused in a pursuit it’s to use the power of genomic science and human

the power of genomic science and human

the power of genomic science and human partnership to head off

partnership to head off

partnership to head off emerging diseases before they become

emerging diseases before they become

emerging diseases before they become global pandemics so in the last part of

global pandemics so in the last part of

global pandemics so in the last part of the 20th century emerging diseases began

the 20th century emerging diseases began

the 20th century emerging diseases began to come up out of nowhere

to come up out of nowhere

to come up out of nowhere so in 1967 Marburg virus appeared in

so in 1967 Marburg virus appeared in

so in 1967 Marburg virus appeared in 1969 Lassa virus in 1976 Ebola and in

1969 Lassa virus in 1976 Ebola and in

1969 Lassa virus in 1976 Ebola and in the 1980’s HIV and people attributed

the 1980’s HIV and people attributed

the 1980’s HIV and people attributed this to increasing world’s population

this to increasing world’s population

this to increasing world’s population globalization changing climates and our

globalization changing climates and our

globalization changing climates and our increased encroachment into animal

increased encroachment into animal

increased encroachment into animal habitats and in 1990 the Institute of

habitats and in 1990 the Institute of

habitats and in 1990 the Institute of Medicine created a report a landmark

Medicine created a report a landmark

Medicine created a report a landmark report called emerging infections

report called emerging infections

report called emerging infections microbial threats to health in the

microbial threats to health in the

microbial threats to health in the United States in which they coined the

United States in which they coined the

United States in which they coined the term emerging disease and over time this

term emerging disease and over time this

term emerging disease and over time this is taken off the report listed many many

is taken off the report listed many many

is taken off the report listed many many microbes that they considered emerging

microbes that they considered emerging

microbes that they considered emerging these were microbes that they believed

these were microbes that they believed

these were microbes that they believed were been new to human populations or

were been new to human populations or

were been new to human populations or rare in the population that were

rare in the population that were

rare in the population that were beginning to rise in prevalence and with

beginning to rise in prevalence and with

beginning to rise in prevalence and with the help of popular media we started to

the help of popular media we started to

the help of popular media we started to think about this all in the collective

think about this all in the collective

think about this all in the collective conscious with terms like outbreak or

conscious with terms like outbreak or

conscious with terms like outbreak or contagion they sound familiar or

contagion they sound familiar or

contagion they sound familiar or pandemic in the way that we think about

pandemic in the way that we think about

pandemic in the way that we think about them are monkeys deep in the forest

them are monkeys deep in the forest

them are monkeys deep in the forest workers in the Far East with animal

workers in the Far East with animal

workers in the Far East with animal products reports going round the world

products reports going round the world

products reports going round the world and we imagine a scene that looks like

and we imagine a scene that looks like

and we imagine a scene that looks like this where there’s clinical workers and

this where there’s clinical workers and

this where there’s clinical workers and full protective gear a village up in

full protective gear a village up in

full protective gear a village up in arms a dramatic scene that’s very clear

arms a dramatic scene that’s very clear

arms a dramatic scene that’s very clear what’s going on but our labs since begun

what’s going on but our labs since begun

what’s going on but our labs since begun to think that the true view of an

to think that the true view of an

to think that the true view of an emerging disease looks more like this

emerging disease looks more like this

emerging disease looks more like this which is a quiet village a sleeping

which is a quiet village a sleeping

which is a quiet village a sleeping mother and her child within a storm

mother and her child within a storm

mother and her child within a storm brewing inside going undetected and the

brewing inside going undetected and the

brewing inside going undetected and the way I started thinking about this the

way I started thinking about this the

way I started thinking about this the way my own ideas about this began

way my own ideas about this began

way my own ideas about this began brewing were not out in the field it was

brewing were not out in the field it was

brewing were not out in the field it was actually back at the Broad Institute in

actually back at the Broad Institute in

actually back at the Broad Institute in Cambridge Massachusetts where we have

Cambridge Massachusetts where we have

Cambridge Massachusetts where we have one of the largest genome centers in the

one of the largest genome centers in the

one of the largest genome centers in the world and we’re generating data from

world and we’re generating data from

world and we’re generating data from genomes analyzing them thousands

genomes analyzing them thousands

genomes analyzing them thousands millions billions of letters

millions billions of letters

millions billions of letters that make up the genomes of us and other

that make up the genomes of us and other

that make up the genomes of us and other species and the data the pictures look

species and the data the pictures look

species and the data the pictures look like this strings and strings of letters

like this strings and strings of letters

like this strings and strings of letters in which we’re trying to interpret and

in which we’re trying to interpret and

in which we’re trying to interpret and the amazing thing about these letters is

the amazing thing about these letters is

the amazing thing about these letters is that they code what make us and within

that they code what make us and within

that they code what make us and within them hide the secrets of who we are and

them hide the secrets of who we are and

them hide the secrets of who we are and how we adapt and so when a new variant

how we adapt and so when a new variant

how we adapt and so when a new variant emerges in a population and it enhances

emerges in a population and it enhances

emerges in a population and it enhances the ability for one to survive and

the ability for one to survive and

the ability for one to survive and reproduce and pass on those those that

reproduce and pass on those those that

reproduce and pass on those those that mutation it’ll spread very quickly

mutation it’ll spread very quickly

mutation it’ll spread very quickly through the population and when it does

through the population and when it does

through the population and when it does it leaves behind a footprint a footprint

it leaves behind a footprint a footprint

it leaves behind a footprint a footprint that we can trace to help us track down

that we can trace to help us track down

that we can trace to help us track down what that change was what it did and get

what that change was what it did and get

what that change was what it did and get clues to our survival and the amazing

clues to our survival and the amazing

clues to our survival and the amazing thing is that you can do this by just

thing is that you can do this by just

thing is that you can do this by just looking at a hundred people living today

looking at a hundred people living today

looking at a hundred people living today if you analyze a population with just

if you analyze a population with just

if you analyze a population with just that many people even fewer and you look

that many people even fewer and you look

that many people even fewer and you look at the DNA within them there’s actually

at the DNA within them there’s actually

at the DNA within them there’s actually an archaeological record that’s hidden

an archaeological record that’s hidden

an archaeological record that’s hidden in our DNA that can tell you about our

in our DNA that can tell you about our

in our DNA that can tell you about our history and you can begin to see these

history and you can begin to see these

history and you can begin to see these variants that have spread through the

variants that have spread through the

variants that have spread through the population and understand what they did

population and understand what they did

population and understand what they did and our our lab develops these methods

and our our lab develops these methods

and our our lab develops these methods that go by and look for those things and

that go by and look for those things and

that go by and look for those things and the methods used to be quite coarse what

the methods used to be quite coarse what

the methods used to be quite coarse what we could do is we could see these

we could do is we could see these

we could do is we could see these different regions of the genome that

different regions of the genome that

different regions of the genome that were important but they were very sort

were important but they were very sort

were important but they were very sort of course signals with thousands of

of course signals with thousands of

of course signals with thousands of different variants within them we were

different variants within them we were

different variants within them we were trying to figure out which was the one

trying to figure out which was the one

trying to figure out which was the one that was important that was driving

that was important that was driving

that was important that was driving something meaningful and recently we had

something meaningful and recently we had

something meaningful and recently we had a breakthrough we got much better at

a breakthrough we got much better at

a breakthrough we got much better at localizing where the signal is coming

localizing where the signal is coming

localizing where the signal is coming from and trying to understand what had

from and trying to understand what had

from and trying to understand what had happened and some of the things that we

happened and some of the things that we

happened and some of the things that we find are ones that you would expect or

find are ones that you would expect or

find are ones that you would expect or at least that sort of are in line with

at least that sort of are in line with

at least that sort of are in line with our now picture of human evolution which

our now picture of human evolution which

our now picture of human evolution which were things like changing skin colour as

were things like changing skin colour as

were things like changing skin colour as we moved out of Africa into regions that

we moved out of Africa into regions that

we moved out of Africa into regions that had lower light the ability to drink

had lower light the ability to drink

had lower light the ability to drink milk and digest milk into adulthood as

milk and digest milk into adulthood as

milk and digest milk into adulthood as we domesticated cattle changes in our

we domesticated cattle changes in our

we domesticated cattle changes in our red blood cell that protects them from

red blood cell that protects them from

red blood cell that protects them from the parasite malaria but we have found

the parasite malaria but we have found

the parasite malaria but we have found hundreds of these candidates and we can

hundreds of these candidates and we can

hundreds of these candidates and we can only explain a handful and so there are

only explain a handful and so there are

only explain a handful and so there are many other candidates each one tells a

many other candidates each one tells a

many other candidates each one tells a story that we can pursue to understand

story that we can pursue to understand

story that we can pursue to understand the key to human survival and one that

the key to human survival and one that

the key to human survival and one that sort of attracted my attention was a

sort of attracted my attention was a

sort of attracted my attention was a gene called large which was critical and

gene called large which was critical and

gene called large which was critical and under very strong selection

under very strong selection

under very strong selection in a population of Yoruba ethnicity from

in a population of Yoruba ethnicity from

in a population of Yoruba ethnicity from Nigeria and so I went to see what is the

Nigeria and so I went to see what is the

Nigeria and so I went to see what is the gene to and how is it acting and as it

gene to and how is it acting and as it

gene to and how is it acting and as it turns out it has many functions but one

turns out it has many functions but one

turns out it has many functions but one of its key functions is it’s critical

of its key functions is it’s critical

of its key functions is it’s critical for the entry of a virus called Lassa

for the entry of a virus called Lassa

for the entry of a virus called Lassa virus so what it does is actually this

virus so what it does is actually this

virus so what it does is actually this gene large modifies the receptor for

gene large modifies the receptor for

gene large modifies the receptor for lots of virus the key in which the virus

lots of virus the key in which the virus

lots of virus the key in which the virus can get into the cell without this

can get into the cell without this

can get into the cell without this modification this change the virus can

modification this change the virus can

modification this change the virus can enter and so I wondered whether or not

enter and so I wondered whether or not

enter and so I wondered whether or not seeing this very strong signal of

seeing this very strong signal of

seeing this very strong signal of adaptation at this gene in this

adaptation at this gene in this

adaptation at this gene in this population whether or not it had

population whether or not it had

population whether or not it had something to do with this virus and the

something to do with this virus and the

something to do with this virus and the disease that the virus causes lots of

disease that the virus causes lots of

disease that the virus causes lots of fever but that seemed a bit unlikely

fever but that seemed a bit unlikely

fever but that seemed a bit unlikely because I had gone to medical school and

because I had gone to medical school and

because I had gone to medical school and I’d never even heard of

I’d never even heard of

I’d never even heard of lots of fever and I went back and I

lots of fever and I went back and I

lots of fever and I went back and I looked in my microbiology textbook and

looked in my microbiology textbook and

looked in my microbiology textbook and it’s just a footnote there lots of virus

it’s just a footnote there lots of virus

it’s just a footnote there lots of virus one of the arena viruses but very sort

one of the arena viruses but very sort

one of the arena viruses but very sort of very not very well known definitely

of very not very well known definitely

of very not very well known definitely not compared to other viruses like Ebola

not compared to other viruses like Ebola

not compared to other viruses like Ebola so how could it be having such an impact

so how could it be having such an impact

so how could it be having such an impact so I’m going to tell you a little bit

so I’m going to tell you a little bit

so I’m going to tell you a little bit about the disease and just want to warn

about the disease and just want to warn

about the disease and just want to warn you that the next slide just for a few

you that the next slide just for a few

you that the next slide just for a few seconds is going to show us a picture

seconds is going to show us a picture

seconds is going to show us a picture that’s a little unsettling so Lassa

that’s a little unsettling so Lassa

that’s a little unsettling so Lassa fever causes a hemorrhagic fever it’s a

fever causes a hemorrhagic fever it’s a

fever causes a hemorrhagic fever it’s a very deadly disease it can travel

very deadly disease it can travel

very deadly disease it can travel through the air and it can have fatality

through the air and it can have fatality

through the air and it can have fatality rates that exceed 50 percent and so it

rates that exceed 50 percent and so it

rates that exceed 50 percent and so it is part of a small set of agents called

is part of a small set of agents called

is part of a small set of agents called biosafety level 4 like Ebola like marled

biosafety level 4 like Ebola like marled

biosafety level 4 like Ebola like marled lurk like smallpox these agents who pose

lurk like smallpox these agents who pose

lurk like smallpox these agents who pose a very great individual risk as well as

a very great individual risk as well as

a very great individual risk as well as a global risk but unlike what we think

a global risk but unlike what we think

a global risk but unlike what we think about many of these diseases last is

about many of these diseases last is

about many of these diseases last is actually known to be quite widespread

actually known to be quite widespread

actually known to be quite widespread and interestingly it’s very common in

and interestingly it’s very common in

and interestingly it’s very common in West Africa and common in Nigeria where

West Africa and common in Nigeria where

West Africa and common in Nigeria where we identified this signal of adaptation

we identified this signal of adaptation

we identified this signal of adaptation and so we set out there to figure out

and so we set out there to figure out

and so we set out there to figure out whether or not there might be genetic

whether or not there might be genetic

whether or not there might be genetic resistance that may have emerged through

resistance that may have emerged through

resistance that may have emerged through this virus being present in that

this virus being present in that

this virus being present in that population and so we went to Rouen

population and so we went to Rouen

population and so we went to Rouen Nigeria so the Aruba specialist teaching

Nigeria so the Aruba specialist teaching

Nigeria so the Aruba specialist teaching hospital is a hospital in a rural part

hospital is a hospital in a rural part

hospital is a hospital in a rural part of Nigeria where we set out with

of Nigeria where we set out with

of Nigeria where we set out with collaborators in Germany to begin to

collaborators in Germany to begin to

collaborators in Germany to begin to study their Kenema government hospital

study their Kenema government hospital

study their Kenema government hospital we partnered with Tulane University who

we partnered with Tulane University who

we partnered with Tulane University who had set up a facility there to study in

had set up a facility there to study in

had set up a facility there to study in rural Sierra Leone and in order to begin

rural Sierra Leone and in order to begin

rural Sierra Leone and in order to begin to do this kind of work just to begin

to do this kind of work just to begin

to do this kind of work just to begin to research the first thing you need to

to research the first thing you need to

to research the first thing you need to do is understand the space there are

do is understand the space there are

do is understand the space there are clinicians that have been working for

clinicians that have been working for

clinicians that have been working for many many years treating this disease

many many years treating this disease

many many years treating this disease and working very hard and so we

and working very hard and so we

and working very hard and so we partnered with them and what we did is

partnered with them and what we did is

partnered with them and what we did is we brought Diagnostics genomic tests to

we brought Diagnostics genomic tests to

we brought Diagnostics genomic tests to test for the viruses presence and you

test for the viruses presence and you

test for the viruses presence and you know in order to basically enroll

know in order to basically enroll

know in order to basically enroll individuals into our study and begin to

individuals into our study and begin to

individuals into our study and begin to look at it but obviously to do epical

look at it but obviously to do epical

look at it but obviously to do epical research we have to make sure that all

research we have to make sure that all

research we have to make sure that all of the patients have the standard of

of the patients have the standard of

of the patients have the standard of care so we also ensured that a treatment

care so we also ensured that a treatment

care so we also ensured that a treatment at ribavirin was present and that

at ribavirin was present and that

at ribavirin was present and that treatment actually has been shown to

treatment actually has been shown to

treatment actually has been shown to reduce the fatality from 55% to 5% but

reduce the fatality from 55% to 5% but

reduce the fatality from 55% to 5% but only if given within the first few days

only if given within the first few days

only if given within the first few days of infection at a time when by clinical

of infection at a time when by clinical

of infection at a time when by clinical symptoms it’s really hard to pick up

symptoms it’s really hard to pick up

symptoms it’s really hard to pick up that that’s what you have and so we had

that that’s what you have and so we had

that that’s what you have and so we had done this to set the foundations for our

done this to set the foundations for our

done this to set the foundations for our work but were surprised by the impact

work but were surprised by the impact

work but were surprised by the impact and the and sort of the the amazing

and the and sort of the the amazing

and the and sort of the the amazing impact that exceeded our expectations is

impact that exceeded our expectations is

impact that exceeded our expectations is that you know as we implemented

that you know as we implemented

that you know as we implemented diagnostics and therapies in these sites

diagnostics and therapies in these sites

diagnostics and therapies in these sites survival started to increase the

survival started to increase the

survival started to increase the population became engaged and the

population became engaged and the

population became engaged and the doctors became empowered and a couple of

doctors became empowered and a couple of

doctors became empowered and a couple of stories that the hospital likes to talk

stories that the hospital likes to talk

stories that the hospital likes to talk about is before we had started there

about is before we had started there

about is before we had started there they used to lose they would say three

they used to lose they would say three

they used to lose they would say three to five physicians and staff each year

to five physicians and staff each year

to five physicians and staff each year in the course of treating Lassa fever

in the course of treating Lassa fever

in the course of treating Lassa fever but since we instituted this and the

but since we instituted this and the

but since we instituted this and the policies around it they haven’t lost the

policies around it they haven’t lost the

policies around it they haven’t lost the staff yet I’m going to knock on wood for

staff yet I’m going to knock on wood for

staff yet I’m going to knock on wood for that one and also you know women a

that one and also you know women a

that one and also you know women a pregnant women in there and their

pregnant women in there and their

pregnant women in there and their children had the highest fatality rates

children had the highest fatality rates

children had the highest fatality rates and they began to survive and succeed

and they began to survive and succeed

and they began to survive and succeed and so we began to get people coming

and so we began to get people coming

and so we began to get people coming from further and further away from

from further and further away from

from further and further away from hundreds of kilometers to the hospital

hundreds of kilometers to the hospital

hundreds of kilometers to the hospital and we saw many lots of fever patients

and we saw many lots of fever patients

and we saw many lots of fever patients and again just for one moment I’m going

and again just for one moment I’m going

and again just for one moment I’m going to show that slide of the classic lots

to show that slide of the classic lots

to show that slide of the classic lots of fever patient that looks like this

of fever patient that looks like this

of fever patient that looks like this and we have many of those unfortunately

and we have many of those unfortunately

and we have many of those unfortunately but we also see a large number of people

but we also see a large number of people

but we also see a large number of people that look like this seemingly innocuous

that look like this seemingly innocuous

that look like this seemingly innocuous but testing positive for Lassa virus and

but testing positive for Lassa virus and

but testing positive for Lassa virus and just as likely to be fatal

just as likely to be fatal

just as likely to be fatal and so we began to think these are the

and so we began to think these are the

and so we began to think these are the undetected the individuals who we don’t

undetected the individuals who we don’t

undetected the individuals who we don’t know are harboring these diseases and so

know are harboring these diseases and so

know are harboring these diseases and so the question that we came to is is this

the question that we came to is is this

the question that we came to is is this actually emerging disease that we’re

actually emerging disease that we’re

actually emerging disease that we’re talking about here are we talking about

talking about here are we talking about

talking about here are we talking about emerging diagnosis of diseases that have

emerging diagnosis of diseases that have

emerging diagnosis of diseases that have been with us all along this picture

been with us all along this picture

been with us all along this picture year was designed by Steven Geyer who’s

year was designed by Steven Geyer who’s

year was designed by Steven Geyer who’s the first author of a paper with the

the first author of a paper with the

the first author of a paper with the same title that we published and Steven

same title that we published and Steven

same title that we published and Steven is not just a scientist but an artist he

is not just a scientist but an artist he

is not just a scientist but an artist he was flying over the Congo River where

was flying over the Congo River where

was flying over the Congo River where out of his airplane he took a picture of

out of his airplane he took a picture of

out of his airplane he took a picture of the river is very close to where Ebola

the river is very close to where Ebola

the river is very close to where Ebola was first discovered and as an artist he

was first discovered and as an artist he

was first discovered and as an artist he transformed the river into the shape of

transformed the river into the shape of

transformed the river into the shape of the Ebola virus we published this with

the Ebola virus we published this with

the Ebola virus we published this with the paper to give a sense of if we

the paper to give a sense of if we

the paper to give a sense of if we looked from a different angle would we

looked from a different angle would we

looked from a different angle would we recognize that these viruses are present

recognize that these viruses are present

recognize that these viruses are present and have been with us all along and the

and have been with us all along and the

and have been with us all along and the data at least for Lassa fever suggests

data at least for Lassa fever suggests

data at least for Lassa fever suggests that that’s the case so we went back and

that that’s the case so we went back and

that that’s the case so we went back and we looked and in fact actually there’s a

we looked and in fact actually there’s a

we looked and in fact actually there’s a test antibody test that can tell you

test antibody test that can tell you

test antibody test that can tell you whether or not you’ve had evidence of

whether or not you’ve had evidence of

whether or not you’ve had evidence of having a disease before being infected

having a disease before being infected

having a disease before being infected with a virus and in fact in some

with a virus and in fact in some

with a virus and in fact in some populations Nigeria Sierra Leone Liberia

populations Nigeria Sierra Leone Liberia

populations Nigeria Sierra Leone Liberia Guinea over 20% of population of

Guinea over 20% of population of

Guinea over 20% of population of evidence millions of people of evidence

evidence millions of people of evidence

evidence millions of people of evidence of been exposed philosophers and it

of been exposed philosophers and it

of been exposed philosophers and it would make sense that there is such

would make sense that there is such

would make sense that there is such exposure because that rodent master news

exposure because that rodent master news

exposure because that rodent master news gnat Olympus has developed the ability

gnat Olympus has developed the ability

gnat Olympus has developed the ability to harbor this virus in its blood

to harbor this virus in its blood

to harbor this virus in its blood continually and it’s spread throughout

continually and it’s spread throughout

continually and it’s spread throughout West Africa and even throughout

West Africa and even throughout

West Africa and even throughout sub-saharan Africa and we sequence the

sub-saharan Africa and we sequence the

sub-saharan Africa and we sequence the virus from Nigeria and Sierra Leone and

virus from Nigeria and Sierra Leone and

virus from Nigeria and Sierra Leone and we can use genomic dating technologies

we can use genomic dating technologies

we can use genomic dating technologies to say how long has the virus been

to say how long has the virus been

to say how long has the virus been around and we dated the mutation and to

around and we dated the mutation and to

around and we dated the mutation and to have emerged and to have been

have emerged and to have been

have emerged and to have been circulating within Nigeria for over a

circulating within Nigeria for over a

circulating within Nigeria for over a thousand years I’m spreading out

thousand years I’m spreading out

thousand years I’m spreading out throughout West Africa so why now we’re

throughout West Africa so why now we’re

throughout West Africa so why now we’re not looking at what’s an emerging

not looking at what’s an emerging

not looking at what’s an emerging disease we’re looking at a virus that is

disease we’re looking at a virus that is

disease we’re looking at a virus that is circulating widely and has been with us

circulating widely and has been with us

circulating widely and has been with us for over millennia and the data I won’t

for over millennia and the data I won’t

for over millennia and the data I won’t show here for Ebola suggests a very

show here for Ebola suggests a very

show here for Ebola suggests a very similar pattern so this is these

similar pattern so this is these

similar pattern so this is these diseases are here and we can tackle them

diseases are here and we can tackle them

diseases are here and we can tackle them and how does that affect Public Health

and how does that affect Public Health

and how does that affect Public Health the way we think about it so you know

the way we think about it so you know

the way we think about it so you know this is a circle that we talked about we

this is a circle that we talked about we

this is a circle that we talked about we had started the Broad Institute and

had started the Broad Institute and

had started the Broad Institute and we’re setting out to study this virus in

we’re setting out to study this virus in

we’re setting out to study this virus in order to do so we had to bring

order to do so we had to bring

order to do so we had to bring Diagnostics to test for it and we were

Diagnostics to test for it and we were

Diagnostics to test for it and we were so successful that the community became

so successful that the community became

so successful that the community became engaged and the doctors became empowered

engaged and the doctors became empowered

engaged and the doctors became empowered and we started to get people for coming

and we started to get people for coming

and we started to get people for coming from hundreds of kilometres and we’re

from hundreds of kilometres and we’re

from hundreds of kilometres and we’re able to identify many people with lots

able to identify many people with lots

able to identify many people with lots of virus but the vast majority of the

of virus but the vast majority of the

of virus but the vast majority of the people we were looking at has something

people we were looking at has something

people we were looking at has something we don’t know that we they didn’t test

we don’t know that we they didn’t test

we don’t know that we they didn’t test for the common things like malaria and

for the common things like malaria and

for the common things like malaria and laso that we were testing there and so

laso that we were testing there and so

laso that we were testing there and so as

as

as we have it we had all of these different

we have it we had all of these different

we have it we had all of these different samples we’ve sent them back to the

samples we’ve sent them back to the

samples we’ve sent them back to the United States and we’re identifying all

United States and we’re identifying all

United States and we’re identifying all sorts of new things that are infecting

sorts of new things that are infecting

sorts of new things that are infecting these individuals and the idea is that

these individuals and the idea is that

these individuals and the idea is that we are going to take those back and

we are going to take those back and

we are going to take those back and create new Diagnostics that incorporate

create new Diagnostics that incorporate

create new Diagnostics that incorporate all of these viruses that are

all of these viruses that are

all of these viruses that are circulating and empower the population

circulating and empower the population

circulating and empower the population once again and it creates this positive

once again and it creates this positive

once again and it creates this positive loop that rather than going and asking

loop that rather than going and asking

loop that rather than going and asking people to help with research we’re

people to help with research we’re

people to help with research we’re asking them to do surveillance we’re

asking them to do surveillance we’re

asking them to do surveillance we’re connecting with them working together to

connecting with them working together to

connecting with them working together to create this local to enhance the local

create this local to enhance the local

create this local to enhance the local community and to also enhance the global

community and to also enhance the global

community and to also enhance the global population creating this positive loop

population creating this positive loop

population creating this positive loop and that’s what we work to and this is

and that’s what we work to and this is

and that’s what we work to and this is where it brings us to collaboration you

where it brings us to collaboration you

where it brings us to collaboration you can’t study a disease as lethal and

can’t study a disease as lethal and

can’t study a disease as lethal and devastating as Lassa fever without

devastating as Lassa fever without

devastating as Lassa fever without complete trust and the people that you

complete trust and the people that you

complete trust and the people that you work with and respect for them and I

work with and respect for them and I

work with and respect for them and I have the most amazing group of

have the most amazing group of

have the most amazing group of individuals I work with my students in

individuals I work with my students in

individuals I work with my students in my lab my collaborators in Africa and

my lab my collaborators in Africa and

my lab my collaborators in Africa and around the world they’re exceptional

around the world they’re exceptional

around the world they’re exceptional people that are on the front lines of a

people that are on the front lines of a

people that are on the front lines of a devastating disease

devastating disease

devastating disease seeing people die every day but working

seeing people die every day but working

seeing people die every day but working and working and we are all severely

and working and we are all severely

and working and we are all severely infected so this is a t-shirt that I’m

infected so this is a t-shirt that I’m

infected so this is a t-shirt that I’m wearing that my amazing and creative lab

wearing that my amazing and creative lab

wearing that my amazing and creative lab created it says I’m severely infected by

created it says I’m severely infected by

created it says I’m severely infected by science and in the back it says science

science and in the back it says science

science and in the back it says science is infectious and it really is it’s

is infectious and it really is it’s

is infectious and it really is it’s extraordinary I said the way that

extraordinary I said the way that

extraordinary I said the way that science brings people together working

science brings people together working

science brings people together working together towards a common cause – its

together towards a common cause – its

together towards a common cause – its tackling these emerging diseases before

tackling these emerging diseases before

tackling these emerging diseases before they become global pandemics these are

they become global pandemics these are

they become global pandemics these are the amazing women of the Arroyo

the amazing women of the Arroyo

the amazing women of the Arroyo specialist teaching hospital where I

specialist teaching hospital where I

specialist teaching hospital where I work they’re not only brilliant and kind

work they’re not only brilliant and kind

work they’re not only brilliant and kind but they have beautiful voices and I

but they have beautiful voices and I

but they have beautiful voices and I discovered this when I was on a long

discovered this when I was on a long

discovered this when I was on a long trip to Nigeria I’d brought my travel

trip to Nigeria I’d brought my travel

trip to Nigeria I’d brought my travel guitar along with me and I was after

guitar along with me and I was after

guitar along with me and I was after work one day playing one of the songs

work one day playing one of the songs

work one day playing one of the songs for my alternative rock song for my band

for my alternative rock song for my band

for my alternative rock song for my band and they started harmonizing and it was

and they started harmonizing and it was

and they started harmonizing and it was amazing I was just overwhelmed and I was

amazing I was just overwhelmed and I was

amazing I was just overwhelmed and I was so excited that I went recorded the song

so excited that I went recorded the song

so excited that I went recorded the song with them an acoustic version of the

with them an acoustic version of the

with them an acoustic version of the song and the song essentially is called

song and the song essentially is called

song and the song essentially is called headlight waves and the idea behind it

headlight waves and the idea behind it

headlight waves and the idea behind it is it talks about the greed and jealousy

is it talks about the greed and jealousy

is it talks about the greed and jealousy and destruction in the world and

and destruction in the world and

and destruction in the world and darkness but as the lyrics go it says

darkness but as the lyrics go it says

darkness but as the lyrics go it says hold on it won’t be long hold on

hold on it won’t be long hold on

hold on it won’t be long hold on cuz I know you come like waves into this

cuz I know you come like waves into this

cuz I know you come like waves into this dark and light you light the way and all

dark and light you light the way and all

dark and light you light the way and all of the ways that they fade you shine

I want to thank National Geographic for

I want to thank National Geographic for working for the last 125 years to try to

working for the last 125 years to try to

working for the last 125 years to try to preserve the planet and thank you for

preserve the planet and thank you for

preserve the planet and thank you for allowing me to participate in this

allowing me to participate in this

allowing me to participate in this journey we do this for each other and

journey we do this for each other and

journey we do this for each other and for Lassa fever patients thank