Protecting Canadians by Predicting the Evolution of COVID-19

COVID-19 Research Area(s): Diagnostics, Genomics & Transmission Dynamics

This project aims to forecast changes to the virus so that tests, therapies and vaccines can be pre-designed to manage future outbreaks.

Canada will need to prepare for inevitable future “waves” of COVID-19 as new strains are likely to evolve. The ability to predict virus variations even before they emerge will be essential to stopping future pandemics. This project brings together a select group of world-class artificial intelligence, computer modelling, and structural biology researchers to forecast changes to the virus so we can pre-design tests, therapies and vaccines to manage future outbreaks. These models can significantly reduce the response time to deploy new diagnostics and medicines to help protect Canadians.