National Dialogue on ethics in pandemic science brought researchers and community together

Collaborators from the Virginia Tech-led National Science Foundation Center for Community Empowering Pandemic Prediction and Prevention from Atoms to Societies (NSF COMPASS Center) brought together dozens of scientists, scholars, and community partners to discuss ways to ensure ethically driven research in pandemic science at its inaugural National Dialogue event. It was co-sponsored by Virginia Tech’s Pandemic Prediction and Prevention Destination Area.

The $18 million NSF COMPASS Center opened in September 2024, bringing together researchers and practitioners of computer science, virology, public health, engineering, and art from Virginia Tech, Cornell University, Wake Forest University, the University of Michigan, and Meharry Medical College. The center is working on better ways to predict how and when animal viruses could mutate to affect humans, understand how these viruses will interact with human systems and persist in the environment, and develop pharmaceutical treatments to support patients who might become infected.

Nearly 50 of the center’s collaborators, as well as community and nonprofit experts, gathered Nov. 12-13 at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C., for the Ethics and Pandemic Science: A National Dialogue event.

Virginia Tech organizers included Lisa Lee, interim senior associate vice president for research and innovation; Julie Gerdes, assistant professor of technical and professional writing and rhetoric; T.M. Murali, director of NSF COMPASS Center; Kathy Hosig, director of the Center for Public Health Practice and Research; Paul Skolnik, chair of basic science education at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine; and Leslie Thornton-O’Brien, NSF COMPASS Center project manager.

“Our intention in holding the National Dialogue was to start building lasting connections with the community in the context of research in pandemic science,” Murali said. “This gathering allowed us to present and discuss ethical issues that researchers grapple with, and to obtain the perspective of members of the public and better understand their concerns."

The meeting tackled important questions, such as:

• What issues arise in building machine learning systems for studying viruses that might be dangerous to human health?
• What are appropriate ways to communicate uncertainty in predictions made by computational models?
• How do we ensure full representation of communities in clinical trials and equitable distribution of resources, including vaccines and drugs?

The dialogue went both ways, with collaborators learning and gaining inspiration from community experts.

“It was a really impactful experience for me to hear community leaders talk about what they need and want from scientists: clear and meaningful communication and a commitment to building relationships. One participant said something along the lines of: ‘We never see a scientist until things are already in shambles,’” said Carrie Kroehler, associate director of Virginia Tech’s Center for Communicating Science. The center trains researchers to better communicate with non-scientists using traditional improvisation and theatre arts techniques and is a major NSF COMPASS Center collaborator.

“I'm looking forward to learning from these experts through continued engagement with the group, and what I've already learned from the first National Dialogue has further solidified my commitment to the work we do,” Kroehler said.

Participants included public health and medical professionals and community nonprofit leaders, such as Roopal Mehta Saran, executive director of the nonprofit English Empowerment Center in Falls Church. The center teaches adults the basic skills of reading, writing, speaking, and understanding English to build community and broaden employment and educational opportunities.

“The opportunity to come together with nonprofit leaders serving such a diverse population to talk about the before, during, and after effects of planning for a pandemic reminded me that our most vulnerable neighbors are significantly impacted but don’t always have a voice,” Saran said. “By becoming more aware and sharing our work with each other, we are able to make their needs and voices heard.”

Religious and educational leaders also attended.

“This event provided a valuable opportunity to engage with research experts while deepening my understanding to contribute to a collective approach to one of the most critical challenges of our time,” said Maurice Ferrell, pastor of the Vance Street Missionary Baptist Church and vice president for technology for the North Carolina Higher Education System. “Moving forward, these lessons will guide my efforts to foster informed discussions between research and faith-based organizations as solutions are developed for pandemic preparedness and response within the community I serve.”

Murali said NSF COMPASS Center will integrate the lessons learned into its future work and publications. There are plans to hold biennial National Dialogue events on other aspects of its work in community spaces, such as libraries and nonprofit centers.