Most of the modelers responding to nCoV are doing so pro bono. There is no funding for this work. Every outbreak they drop the work they are funded to do and volunteer their expertise to help us all to understand what is happening and how to respond. 1/
If you are not familiar with academia, that might sound underwhelming. But running a lab is a lot like running a business. There are employees to support and expenses to pay. And all of the regular work - the research they are actually paid to do - still needs to get done. 2/
We can’t continue to manage the scientific response to outbreaks like this. It isn’t sustainable. We need super rapid funding mechanisms, or even sustainment $ to focus on outbreak science. 3/
I’ve written with colleagues before about the importance of investing in a functional modeling capability before the outbreak begins. nCoV should underscore the necessity of that nature.com/articles/s4146… 4/
I am an academic myself now, but fortunately I am funded through my work with @JHSPH_CHS. So please don’t mistake this as self-serving. I am using this privilege to highlight the difficult position of the scientists who are too humble to do so themselves. 5/5
