PROFILE: ARCS
Holiday Virus Advice From the Best By Sheila Grinell, ARCS Phoenix Chapter Timothy Lant is a mathematician who studies the behavior of viruses from an epidemiological perspective. He plows through mountains of data to advise the State of Arizona, among others, about COVID-19. Dr. Lant is also an ARCS scholar, which means he was supported in graduate school by grants from the ARCS Phoenix chapter – a group of local women dedicated to helping young scientists advance knowledge in America. (ARCS stands for Achievement Rewards for College Scientists.) Dr. Lant recently gave a virtual talk to Phoenix ARCS members. When asked about the near future, he said his models indicate that COVID-19 cases will rise for the next month or so. The SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes the COVID-19 disease likes 50-degree temperatures and indoor spaces. Flagstaff should be wary as temperatures decline, although Maricopa County might not be hit as hard if people maintain physical distancing and spend time outdoors. What about visiting with family over the holidays? Dr. Lant advises “be careful when choosing where to spend your risk points.” Take tests before traveling if you can. If you bubble with Uncle Joe, he says, “remember, your bubble includes everyone Uncle met over the last couple of weeks.” Fifty percent of people with the virus show no symptoms, and those who do sicken can shed virus for two or three days before feeling ill. When you return from travel, take a test on day one for any sign of picking up the virus while you were gone, and again on day four or five to be absolutely sure you are infection-free. For susceptible
Dr. Lant in Washington, D.C., where he first worked in epidemiological modeling.
people at any age, the disease can have long-lasting cardio-vascular and neurological consequences. After earning his PhD in Applied Mathematics at Arizona State University, Dr. Lant went to Washington DC to work with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) where he supported the research and development of vaccines for influenza and pandemics. While there, he interacted with Dr. Anthony Fauci and many other scientists in HHS, the CDC, and the National Institutes of Health, to “assess medical and public health consequences of disease outbreaks, chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense terrorism and pandemic flu.” Now at ASU, he serves as Director of Program Development, within the Knowledge Enterprise.
These young men and women from Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, and the University of Arizona each received financial awards from the ARCS Phoenix Chapter in 2013
30
Are you interested in learning more about ARCS and how you can help promising young scientists at the time they most need financial support and encouragement? Please write phoenix@arcsfoundation.org or visit https://phoenix.arcsfoundation.org/.