Lessons from the Department of Energy's Pandemic Response for Multidisciplinary Research

Abstract

One of the hallmarks of science in the COVID-19 era is the remarkable advances that were made scientifically to address the pandemic. The rapid genomic analyses of the SARS-Cov-2 virus (and subsequent rapid sharing), the development and roll-out of vaccines, and other advances demonstrate both the ability to rapidly address new challenges and the ability to leverage strong research directions that have been in development for decades. However, the challenges were not simply in the areas of biology and medicine and are ongoing on multiple frontiers. From the experience of U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) labs, we see lessons to be learned in driving multi-institution, multidisciplinary research efforts that address significant challenges. While they were not set up specifically to address challenges such as this pandemic, their structure, organization, capabilities, and mission allowed them to pivot, dedicate significant resources, and rapidly form coherent research efforts across disciplines, capabilities, and institutions, to initiate and accomplish significant results in short times. The present paper describes the view from one of these laboratories, with the perspective of what may be learned toward organizing effective, larger research efforts.