FOREWORD Looking back on over three years since the first reported cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the impact that the pandemic has had on the world is almost unfathomable. Every reader of this thesis will have their own personal COVID-19 story, often including difficult experiences. Yet, in the midst of these challenging times, the COVID-19 pandemic also spurred innovation, scientific teamwork, and action on several important public health issues that were laid bare during this crisis. It acted as a pivotal moment during which achievements in research were made possible due to a combination of political backing, rapid financing, and commitment from the scientific community. These achievements were also reliant on many study participants willing to take part in clinical trials and observational studies. As an early-career physician-scientist, I was given the unique opportunity during the COVID-19 pandemic to develop my skills as both a public health doctor and a researcher interested in emerging infections. Together with a highly motivated and interdisciplinary team, we aimed to help tackle pressing research questions during the COVID-19 crisis – the results of which are presented in this thesis. In reading this work, I hope to provide insight into my perspective on the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and considerations for the future.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTk4NDMw