Lea Ann Dailey, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
"I am working on the development of antiviral drugs that can be administered directly into the lungs by inhalation to target lung infections such as COVID-19. My colleagues Judith Rollinger and Ulrike Grienke are discovering new antiviral agents from natural products and passing them on to my group so that we can develop an inhalation product from them.
Vaccines are very effective in protecting a large part of the population from infectious diseases. Moreover, they provide this protection with a good tolerability profile. Elderly people are protected against COVID-19 disease, which is very dangerous for their age group. Ultimately, it is also important that as many people as possible achieve this protection through the Corona vaccine so that we can once again move freely in our daily lives, go about our businesses and professions without restriction, and enjoy the company of our friends and families."
Judith Rollinger, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
"For many years, one of the focal points of my research has been the discovery of natural substances that act efficiently against acute infections of the respiratory tract. Traditional knowledge of medicinal plants is used for this purpose. While initially the focus was on natural products against influenza viruses, we are currently identifying multipotent natural products that can act with concentrated power against several pathogenic germs, including SARS COV-2, influenza and pneumococci, simultaneously.
Considering all the scientific knowledge we have today and can incorporate into a risk-benefit assessment, the facts are clear! Both for self-protection and in terms of social solidarity, a corona vaccination - regardless of which of the vaccines approved in the EU is used - is clearly on the benefit side. The decisive factor is above all the time until (partial) immunization. Similar to the flu vaccine, manufacturers will have to continuously adapt their products to the circulating mutations. This can increase antibody matching and thus immunity.
However, in order for us to return to our long-awaited normalcy, where we can maintain our so vital togetherness without endangering ourselves or each other, not vaccinating or even delaying and waiting for a 'better' vaccine is counterproductive in every way."
Gerhard Ecker, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
"In our research we deal with computational methods for the discovery and development of new drugs. The focus here is on the prediction of side effects, ideally even before the first animal experiments. The unique aspect of developing potential drugs against COVID-19 infections is the public availability of much of the data collected worldwide. This can greatly accelerate drug development. However, it must be emphasized that it will still take several years before a new drug is available on the market. The only way to quickly get a grip on the pandemic is therefore through effective vaccination.
Where would we be today without vaccinations against mumps, measles, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, smallpox, TBE, polio? Vaccinations train our immune system to recognize and fight pathogens. They are the only way we can cope with the underlying pathogens ourselves and either not get sick at all or show only very mild symptoms. Again, in the case of COVID-19, I think vaccination is the only way to get the pandemic under control by the end of this year. I will therefore get vaccinated as soon as I receive the offer to do so. Regarding vaccine, I will take any that is offered to me, all EMA-approved vaccines protect against severe disease progression."
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