Blog Video What's on Education Families Christmas Lectures Our history About Join and support Christmas Lectures → 2021 Going viral How Covid changed science forever → About Going viral → About Going viral: How Covid changed science forever In three Lectures epidemiologist Jonathan Van-Tam will take a deep dive into viruses and reveal why discoveries and advances made during the on-going pandemic mean biological science will never be the same again. Jonathan Van-Tam Credit: Paul Wilkinson In the 2021 CHRISTMAS LECTURES from the Royal Institution, Jonathan Van-Tam will be joined by expert British scientists who all played vital roles in the Covid-19 pandemic, to reveal how new discoveries are set to change the future of medicine. With millions of lives at stake and no treatments or vaccines to hand, these scientists fell back on tried and tested principles of contact tracing and isolation. Alongside this, they accelerated their research to achieve the impossible. They raced to understand the virus’s biology, to find treatments and create vaccines that could bring the pandemic under control. And they succeeded. Within 11 months the first vaccine was produced – a process that often takes 10 years. Jonathan will show how public health measures, combined with ground-breaking science will have an impact far beyond Covid-19. He will be joined by six Guest Lecturers, cellular immunologist Katie Ewer, mathematical biologist Julia Gog, clinical microbiologist Ravi Gupta, pharmacologist Tess Lambe, chartered mechanical engineer Cath Noakes, and microbiologist Sharon Peacock. Together they will demonstrate biomedical breakthroughs that could help fight other infectious diseases, genetic disorders and even cancer. From advances in early detection techniques – lateral flow tests, blood tests and wearable tech which can detect illnesses before symptoms are even noticeable – to rapid genome sequencing that could be used to speed up cancer diagnosis or assess organ donor compatibility, to the world’s first mRNA vaccines which could be used to treat Malaria and HIV. Data has been shared across the world and rapid clinical trials have tested the efficacy of new drugs. Biological and epidemiological science will never be the same again. Share this Facebook Twitter Email LinkedIn Meet Jonathan Van-Tam Find out more Meet the Guest Lecturers Find out more About the CHRISTMAS LECTURES Find out more Become an Ri Member Find out more Learn Masterclasses L'Oréal Young Scientist Centre Events for the whole family Science in schools shows Interactive games CHRISTMAS LECTURES Visit News What's on Food & drink The Faraday Museum Heritage tours Visiting the archive Find us Support Donate to the Ri Become an Ri Member Become an Ri Patron Corporate support Jobs Keep in touch Keep up to date with regular emails from the Ri Subscribe now Go © Royal Institution Facebook Twitter Youtube Tumbler Instagram Venue Hire Press Terms and conditions Privacy Policy Accessibility Contact Us