Pittsburg, PA
Vaccine researchers in Pittsburgh join new pandemic preparedness network
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — After the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc, Pittsburgh researchers are doing everything they can to help prevent another devastating pandemic from happening again.
Most of us would like to forget the COVID-19 pandemic, but it’s a motivator for the people who study dangerous viruses at the Center for Vaccine Research at the University of Pittsburgh.
“People like us in the Center for Vaccine Research have to remember that it existed and have to be ready for the next one,” said Paul Duprex, director of Pitt’s Center for Vaccine Research.
Duprex is thrilled the center is joining a new National Institutes of Health network. The Research and Development of Vaccines and Monoclonal Antibodies for Pandemic Preparedness network, ReVAMPP, is aimed at boosting pandemic preparedness.
He said they’ll receive millions of dollars in awards over the next three to five years to come up with plans that can be used to quickly respond to virus threats.
The experts at Pitt will study prototype viruses from four troublemaker virus families — like the family that includes mumps, for example.
“If you imagine that a virus, which is very closely related to mumps but is transmissible as mumps comes along and we don’t have natural immunity to that because the mumps vaccine that we have is not protective, we can take that knowledge, which we identify for mumps, and use it to quickly generate a new vaccine,” Duprex said.
To put it simply, they’re using examples to prepare for something that emerges in the future.
“We can take all of that knowledge and pivot that knowledge into this new virus that we’ve never seen before,’ he said.
Duprex said CVR’s regional bio-containment lab will benefit the program greatly. Researchers there worked with coronavirus, SARS, MERS and more.
“We take advantage of all of that knowledge that we built, all of that expertise we have, not to look backwards but to look forwards,” he said.
He said the “prototype pathogens” model is similar to the one that accelerated vaccines to fight the virus that caused the COVID-19 pandemic.
The NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases expects to commit $100 million per year to fund the ReVAMPP program. Multi-million dollar rewards will go to multiple research groups that make up the network across the U.S.
Duprex is proud Pitt researchers are a part of this new network. They’re ready to suit up in full protective gear and develop blueprints that could be life-saving.
“If you think about it as seven families, lots of scientists, lots of virology, lots of vaccinology, lots of preparation with a view to be ready to move. It’s super exciting. It’s just wonderful that we get to play a part in it,” Duprex said.
Bike Share Pittsburgh is celebrating a milestone.
Saturday marked 10 years since launching bike stations across the city.
What originally started as “Healthy Ride” eventually turned into “POGOH.”
Officials say a majority of the bikes are fully-charged electric-assist bikes to help riders make their way from place to place.
They say they are glad to see investments being put toward things like better sidewalks and bike lanes.
“I do think that Pittsburgh can be a world-class biking city and we have a lot of people who are curious and just want to try it a couple times in the summer and that’s really cool too,” said David White, Executive Director of Bike Share Pittsburgh.
Over the past 10 years, Bike Share has served more than 150,000 riders with more than 1.5 million trips.
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PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Pirates manager Don Kelly has built a reputation for defending his players and did so again in their latest game vs. the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.
The Pirates loaded the bases in the top of the eighth inning, with designated hitter Andrew McCutchen hitting a two-out double and then both right fielder Bryan Reynolds and Spencer Horwitz drawing walks.
Catcher Henry Davis came up to bat for the Pirates and with his team trailing 3-2, just needing to get on base any way he could to tie it up or give them the lead.
Davis worked a full count, and the seventh pitch of the at-bat from Padres right-handed pitcher Robert Suarez was low, which would’ve tied the game up on a bases-loaded walk on ball four.
Home plate umpire Edwin Jimenez, however, called a third strike and the Pirates didn’t score any runs.
Davis was stunned, but Kelly immediately ran out of the dugout and confronted Jimenez, demanding an explanation for the call and ended up ejected.
The Pirates went on and lost the game 3-2, which saw players like McCutchen and right-handed starting pitcher Mitch Keller show their displeasure with the umpire crew.
Kelly praised his players’ effort against top bullpen arms in Suarez and right-handed pitcher Jeremiah Estrada and also, clearly, didn’t care for the call.
“Honestly, the way our guys battled against two of the best relievers in the game, to comeback in that situation, get the bases loaded,” Kelly said. “Henry grinds out an at-bat. Obviously, I did not agree with the call and you know, it’s just unfortunate, that he battles that far in that at-bat, all our guys. That inning, again, against two of the best relievers in the game, to get into that situation, it’s just unfortunate.”
Kelly makes it three ejections since taking over as manager of the Pirates on May 8, after the front office dismissed Derek Shelton.
He got his first ejection in his second game in charge vs. the Atlanta Braves at PNC Park on May 10 and then his second ejection against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on May 16.
Kelly said that Jimenez said nothing to him during his time out of the dugout and that the Pirates have to earn the respect from umpires going forward.
He also praised his team for fighting back in the game and that it means a great deal as the season moves on.
“As a team, we just got to go out and earn it,” Kelly said. “We’ve got to go out and earn that respect. We’ve got to play with a chip on our shoulder and find a way to overcome those situations. It was something that, like I said, was an unfortunate call, in a big moment.
“It happened in Philadelphia a few weeks ago. Happened again tonight and just proud of the guys and the way they competed against those two guys especially and I think that it’s something to take forward.
“We’re right there with these guys. We’ve got guys on base. In Arizona, we came up with some big hits. We just go to keep grinding and earn that respect.”
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