We need a moonshot for new diagnostics if we want effective pandemic control

The fact that we are struggling with diagnostic testing is not because we lack the ability to detect the virus with the required speed. The problem is related to a lack of attention to—and investment in—diagnostic technology development.

Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains, pictured addressing reporters on the feds' COVID-19 response. Most venture capital investors avoid diagnostic technology startups as the margins on these products are low, commercialization scale-up costs are high, and it is therefore difficult to get financial returns that investors expect.The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Opinion

BY SHANA KELLEY AND KEITH PARDEE

May 12, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted how difficult it is to deploy the tools we have on hand to diagnose infectious disease. Testing reagents have been in short supply and hospital labs have been backlogged. We are simply unable to keep up with the demand for testi...

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