Timeline of key events in biotechnology

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Article: A Page et al, 'Large-scale sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 genomes from one region allows detailed epidemiology and enables local outbreak management', Microbial Genomics, 7/6, 0005892021-07-01T00:00:00+0000Article: Phylocanvas.gl: A WebGL-powered JavaScript library for large tree visualisation2021-07-01T00:00:00+0000Si, N Bai, H, Rodas, M et al (Aug 2021) 'A human-airway-on-a-chip for the rapid identification of candidate antiviral therapeutics and prophylactics', Nature Biomedical Engineering, 5/8, 815-29.2021-08-01T00:00:00+0000Article published: G Tonkin-Hill et al, 'Patterns of within-host genetic diversity in SARS-CoV-2', eLife, 10:e668572021-08-19T00:00:00+0000Article: CJR Illingworth, 'Superspreaders drive the largest outbreaks of hospital onset COVID-19 infections', eLife2021-08-24T00:00:00+0000Fischer was a biochemist. He is best known for helping to discover and describe reversible protein phosphorylation, a biological and chemical reaction that regulates the activities of cell proteins. This he did with Edwin Krebs at the University of Washington. Their work helped illustrate how life exists at the cellular level. They were both awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1992.2021-08-27T00:00:00+0000COG-UK national network stands down apart from 3 surge sites: UCL, Quadram and Northumbria2021-09-01T00:00:00+0000Two COG-UK sites in England remain on standby for surge sequencing, while the Quadram Institute continues to support the Real-time Assessment of Community Transmission (REACT) study until its transition to PHE in September2021-09-02T00:00:00+00002021-09-17T00:00:00+0000COG-UK Second Science Showcase event2021-09-23T00:00:00+0000A team of surgeons led by Robert Montgomery at New York University Langone Health attached the organ to a brain-dead individual who was being maintained on a ventilator. Although the kidney remained outside the body, it worked normally, making urine and creatinine, a waste product. 2021-09-25T00:00:00+0000Following handover of sequencing to UKHSA, COG-UK focuses its attention fully on research studies2021-10-01T00:00:00+0000COG-UK Third Science Showcase event2021-10-07T00:00:00+0000COG-UK Together event2021-10-14T00:00:00+0000Article: T Mashe et al, 'Genomic epidemiology and the role of international and regional travel in the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Zimbabwe: a retrospective study of routinely collected surveillance data', The Lancet Global Health, 9/12, E1658-662021-12-01T00:00:00+0000The treatment contains tixagevimab with cilgavimab and is intended for individuals with moderate to severely compromised immune systems or severe adverse reactions to a COVID-19 vaccine. 2021-12-08T00:00:00+0000Article: LB Snell, et al, 'Combined epidemiological and genomic analysis of nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 infection early in the pandemic and the role of unidentified cases in transmission', Clinical Microbiology and Infection', 28/1, 93-1002022-01-01T00:00:00+0000Modified mRNA was used to generate transient chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells in mice capable of recognising fibrotic cells in the heart which can stiffening and scaring of heart tissue. The research was published in JG Jurick, I Tombacz, A Yamegari (6 Jan 2022) 'CAR T cells produced in vivo to treat cardiac injury' Science, 375/ 6576. 2022-01-06T00:00:00+0000UK uploaded over 2 million SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences to GISAID2022-01-10T00:00:00+0000The transplant was performed on David Bennett, a 57 year old, by doctors at the University of Maryland Medical Center. The heart was taken from a pig that had been genetically modified to knock out several genes that would have led to the organ being rejected by Mr Bennett's immune system. The treatment was considered the last hope for saving Mr Bennett who had heart failure. Mr Bennett was reported to be doing well three days after the operation but died after two months. The team who performed the transplant was led by Muhammad Mohiuddin.2022-01-11T00:00:00+0000
Date Event People Places Sciences
Jul 2021Article: A Page et al, 'Large-scale sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 genomes from one region allows detailed epidemiology and enables local outbreak management', Microbial Genomics, 7/6, 000589Andrew PageQuadram InstituteCovid-19
Jul 2021Article: Phylocanvas.gl: A WebGL-powered JavaScript library for large tree visualisationKhalil Abudahab, Antony Underwood, Ben Taylor, Corin Yeats University of OxfordCovid-19
Aug 2021Human-airway-on-a-chip used to identify antiviral drugs and prophylactics against SARS-CoV-2 virus Longlong Si, Haiqing Bai, Rodas, Wuji Cao, Crystal Yuri Oh, Amanda Jiang, Moller, Daisy Hoagland, Kohei Oishi, Shu Horiuchi , Skyler Uhl, Blanco-Melo, Randy Albrecht, Wen-Chun Liu, Tristan Jordan, Nilsson-Payant , Golynker, Justin Frere?, James Logue?, RHarvard University, Wyss Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, University of Maryland School of Medicine, University of Chieti-Pescara, University of PittsburghOrgan-on-a-chip
19 Aug 2021Article published: G Tonkin-Hill et al, 'Patterns of within-host genetic diversity in SARS-CoV-2', eLife, 10:e66857Tonkin-HillWellcome Sanger InstituteCovid-19
24 Aug 2021Article: CJR Illingworth, 'Superspreaders drive the largest outbreaks of hospital onset COVID-19 infections', eLifeIllingworthUniversity of CambridgeCovid-19
27 Aug 2021Edmond H Fischer diedFischerUniversity of WashingtonBiochemistry
Sep 2021COG-UK national network stands down apart from 3 surge sites: UCL, Quadram and Northumbria Northumbria University, Quadram Institute, University College LondonCovid-19
2 Sep 2021Two COG-UK sites in England remain on standby for surge sequencing, while the Quadram Institute continues to support the Real-time Assessment of Community Transmission (REACT) study until its transition to PHE in September Quadram InstituteCovid-19
17 Sep 2021Over 1 million SARS-CoV-2 whole genomes sequenced in the UK  Covid-19
23 Sep 2021COG-UK Second Science Showcase event  Covid-19
25 Sep 2021First genetically engineered pig kidney successfully transplanted into a brain-dead human patientRobert MontgomeryNew York UniversityTransplant, Transgenic animals
Oct 2021Following handover of sequencing to UKHSA, COG-UK focuses its attention fully on research studies  Covid-19
7 Oct 2021COG-UK Third Science Showcase event  Covid-19
14 Oct 2021COG-UK Together event  Covid-19
Dec 2021Article: T Mashe et al, 'Genomic epidemiology and the role of international and regional travel in the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Zimbabwe: a retrospective study of routinely collected surveillance data', The Lancet Global Health, 9/12, E1658-66MasheNational Microbiology Reference Laboratory, ZimbabweCovid-19
8 Dec 2021FDA issued emergency authorisation for long-acting monoclonal antibodies for pre-exposure prevention of COVID-19 in certain patients AstraZenecaMonoclonal antibodies
Jan 2022Article: LB Snell, et al, 'Combined epidemiological and genomic analysis of nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 infection early in the pandemic and the role of unidentified cases in transmission', Clinical Microbiology and Infection', 28/1, 93-100SnellKing's College LondonCovid-19
6 Jan 2022mRNA technology shown to successfully reprogramme T lymphocyptes in mice to treat cardiac injuryRurik, Tombacz, Yadegari, Mendez Fernandez, Shewale, Li Li, Kimura, Younoss Soliman, Papp, Ying Tam, Mui, Pure, June, Bghajanian, Drew Weissman, Parhiz, Jonathan EpsteinUniversity of PennsylvaniamRNA
10 Jan 2022UK uploaded over 2 million SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences to GISAID  Covid-19
11 Jan 2022First pig-to-human heart transplantMohiuddinUniversity of MarylandTransplants, Transgenic animals

Jul 2021

Article: A Page et al, 'Large-scale sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 genomes from one region allows detailed epidemiology and enables local outbreak management', Microbial Genomics, 7/6, 000589

Jul 2021

Article: Phylocanvas.gl: A WebGL-powered JavaScript library for large tree visualisation

Aug 2021

Human-airway-on-a-chip used to identify antiviral drugs and prophylactics against SARS-CoV-2 virus

19 Aug 2021

Article published: G Tonkin-Hill et al, 'Patterns of within-host genetic diversity in SARS-CoV-2', eLife, 10:e66857

24 Aug 2021

Article: CJR Illingworth, 'Superspreaders drive the largest outbreaks of hospital onset COVID-19 infections', eLife

27 Aug 2021

Edmond H Fischer died

Sep 2021

COG-UK national network stands down apart from 3 surge sites: UCL, Quadram and Northumbria

2 Sep 2021

Two COG-UK sites in England remain on standby for surge sequencing, while the Quadram Institute continues to support the Real-time Assessment of Community Transmission (REACT) study until its transition to PHE in September

17 Sep 2021

Over 1 million SARS-CoV-2 whole genomes sequenced in the UK

23 Sep 2021

COG-UK Second Science Showcase event

25 Sep 2021

First genetically engineered pig kidney successfully transplanted into a brain-dead human patient

Oct 2021

Following handover of sequencing to UKHSA, COG-UK focuses its attention fully on research studies

7 Oct 2021

COG-UK Third Science Showcase event

14 Oct 2021

COG-UK Together event

Dec 2021

Article: T Mashe et al, 'Genomic epidemiology and the role of international and regional travel in the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Zimbabwe: a retrospective study of routinely collected surveillance data', The Lancet Global Health, 9/12, E1658-66

8 Dec 2021

FDA issued emergency authorisation for long-acting monoclonal antibodies for pre-exposure prevention of COVID-19 in certain patients

Jan 2022

Article: LB Snell, et al, 'Combined epidemiological and genomic analysis of nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 infection early in the pandemic and the role of unidentified cases in transmission', Clinical Microbiology and Infection', 28/1, 93-100

6 Jan 2022

mRNA technology shown to successfully reprogramme T lymphocyptes in mice to treat cardiac injury

10 Jan 2022

UK uploaded over 2 million SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences to GISAID

11 Jan 2022

First pig-to-human heart transplant

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