An Outbreak Told in Genomes

Illustrations by Internal Inc.

Rapid genetic sequencing maps an Ebola outbreak in fine detail.

BASIC RESEARCH

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Organoids Grow Up

The model tissues, barely a decade old, have become more clever and complex—and increasingly useful.

Hyperprolific Authors

Confronting Bias in Journals

Medical journals have a blind spot when it comes to race. But a blueprint for change is beginning to emerge.

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EBOLA

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200 Years of Preparation

Since its founding in 1811, MGH has both faced pandemics and learned from them.

To Build a Better Vaccine

Waiting a decade or more for new vaccines may be a thing of the past, thanks to the revolution of rational vaccine design.

Down on the Pharm

A breakthrough Ebola vaccine was grown in tobacco leaves. Are genetically modified plants the future of pharmaceuticals?

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INFOGRAPHIC

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What Is a Collaborative Community?

An unconventional new model makes industry meetups a key part of medical device regulation.

The New Vaccines: A Visual Primer

More than a hundred COVID-19 vaccines are in development, and many use new technologies never tried on a grand scale. Here’s how each is supposed to work.

The Body on Chips

An engineered model of human physiology hits an important milestone.

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INTERNATIONAL

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Two Takes on a Pandemic

Every nation has had its own experience of COVID-19. The stories of Denmark, a model of socialized care, and Rwanda, a bright spot among developing nations, both hold wider lessons for the world.

Chapter 1: In the Path of the Pandemic

A novel coronavirus would come to affect every ward, clinician, researcher and patient at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Your New Job Is …

The new normal meant new tasks to be done. Those jobs were often filled by very unconventional candidates.

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PUBLIC HEALTH

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One for All

A global pandemic treaty—a health plan on par with nuclear
and climate deals—is now in the works. Does it stand a chance?

Drawing the Line

Shirlene Obuobi—cartoonist and physician—shows how dark days sometimes call for a light touch.

Two Takes on a Pandemic

Every nation has had its own experience of COVID-19. The stories of Denmark, a model of socialized care, and Rwanda, a bright spot among developing nations, both hold wider lessons for the world.

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Published On June 10, 2015

The fight against the Ebola virus in 2014 brought many experimental technologies to bear. One of the most revolutionary was rapid genomic sequencing, which was used to analyze the virus as it spread in Sierra Leone.

Scientists from Harvard’s Sabeti Lab were able to gather and sequence samples early in the outbreak. This trail of genetic bread crumbs showed researchers how the disease had spread and how it was evolving, insights that can help researchers develop vaccines and plan better treatments and public health strategies.

The challenge, especially in remote regions, is logistical. But the Sabeti Lab had already built a robust infrastructure in Sierra Leone through its work with the Lassa virus, another deadly pathogen. When Ebola struck, they were ready to act.

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