UC Davis Professor To Share Scientific Modeling Expertise

DAVIS, CA — COVID-19 is not to be taken lightly, says James R. Carey, UC Davis distinguished professor of entomology, who will share his scientific modeling expertise at the UC Davis-based COVID-19 webinar on Thursday afternoon, April 23.

The webinar, to be broadcast on Zoom and YouTube Live from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., will feature physicians, scientists and a survivor of the COVID-19 virus, announced organizer-moderator Walter Leal, UC Davis distinguished professor of the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors.

“COVID-19 is set apart from all other strains of flu for the simple reason that people die from it at higher rates than from other varieties,” Carey says. “It follows that understanding the actuarial details and consequences of this virus is central to understanding, has potential impact on the U.S. population in particular and on the world population in general.”

In his presentation, Carey will ask and answer three questions: “The first is related to case fatality rate of CVOID 19. The second concern will be the age-specific mortality of this virus, and the third, to its demographic consequences if no health-related interventions, policies implemented, or a vaccine were available.” Carey is the co-author of the newly published book, Biodemography: An Introduction to Concepts and Methods.

The webinar, free and open to the public, will include experts in immunology, infectious diseases, pathology and emergency medicine. Registration is underway at Zoompresentation.com. Viewers can access YouTube Live at Covidactionplan.com or Bit.ly/2VurK3Z.

Chancellor Gary May will give the introduction.

The main speakers are UC Davis physician-scientists Emanuel Maverakis, Stuart Cohen and Nathan Kuppermann; UC Davis veterinarian-scientist Nicole Baumgarth; physician Ron Chapman, Yolo County Health Officer; and pediatrician State Sen. Richard Pan, District 6 chair, Senate Committee on Health.

Davis resident Marilyn Stebbins, a pharmacist who works at the UC San Francisco School of Pharmacy—and a survivor of the deadly illness that to date has killed more than 182,000 people worldwide (15,000-plus in the United States)—will tell her story.

You-Lo Hsieh, UC Davis distinguished professor in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, and an expert on textiles and clothing, will explain the differences between regular masks, surgical masks, and N95 masks.

By Kathy Keatley Garvey, UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology