Silicon Valley to the Rescue: Four Reasons Why Technology Will Save Humanity from Future Epidemics
By Vivek Wadhwa, Professor at Rock Center for Corporate Governance at Stanford University
As the world grapples with the devastating Ebola outbreak, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s $25 million donation to the US Centers for Disease Control Foundation is a welcome step forward. However, the fight against disease is far from over. In fact, the future of humanity is at stake. With advances in biotechnology, the creation of new and deadly viruses is becoming increasingly possible. It’s not just governments and terrorists who pose a threat; even high school students can inadvertently create synthetic biology experiments gone wrong. The time to act is now.
The Role of Silicon Valley in Combating Epidemics
Silicon Valley has the unique ability to develop new technologies that can track, prevent, and curb the spread of epidemics. By working with scientists, researchers, and drug treatment experts, we can create a network of innovation that will save lives and prevent suffering. While technology brings new risks, it also enables entrepreneurs to tackle global problems that were previously the domain of governments and large research laboratories.
Four Key Technologies to Accelerate the Fight Against Epidemics
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Patient Identification and Tracking System: Just as marketers use social media, mobile phone records, and search data to track users, we can use technology to track the spread of disease and identify patients. By monitoring their behavior and contacts, we can prevent the spread of disease and provide targeted interventions.
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Education and Communication: Mobile applications can guide public health measures, patient education, and prevention and treatment efforts. With billions of people worldwide having access to mobile phones and the internet, we can provide accurate and timely information to those on the frontlines of the epidemic.
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Better and Faster Detection Technology: Liquid sensors can detect diseases quickly and easily. Companies like Orasure Technologies, BioFire Diagnostics, and Nanologix are working on rapid detection technologies for Ebola, HIV, and other infectious diseases. The US Food and Drug Administration has issued emergency use licenses for these companies, enabling them to test their technologies.
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Large Data Analysis: By analyzing airline travel data, scientists can predict the likelihood of disease carriers on flights. This can inform containment, prevention, and treatment efforts. Additionally, entrepreneurs are developing synthetic vaccine technologies that will be key in treating diseases. Flow Pharma, a Silicon Valley-based pharmaceutical company, is developing a biodegradable microspheres vaccine delivery platform that can deliver vaccines with adjuvants to the immune system.
The Optimism of Silicon Valley
While the idea of creating a non-sterile vaccine prototype within 60 days and human trials within a year may seem optimistic, it’s a testament to the power of innovation in Silicon Valley. With hundreds of startups working on different approaches to the same problem, we can learn from each other and accelerate the speed of development. The social returns of resolving the epidemic will be far greater than the financial returns. It’s an action that will save humanity, and Silicon Valley is leading the charge.
Join the Movement
The fight against epidemics is a numbers game, and success is dominated by optimism. We need to work together to develop new technologies that can track, prevent, and curb the spread of epidemics. By sharing this article and joining the conversation, we can accelerate the speed of development and save lives.