FLC | ORNL data provide foundation for UAH research on COVID-19 therapies

ORNL data provide foundation for UAH research on COVID-19 therapies

November 30, 2020

An Alabama scientist’s research, using data from Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), may lead to medicines that can team up with vaccines as another weapon against COVID-19, according to findings released November 30.

The team of University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) biologist Dr. Jerome Baudry has already won an award for their work so far, and Beaudry said the widespread scientific and technical cooperation to fight COVID reminds him of the space exploration of the ’60s.

“There are no competitors, only collaborators, and a unique feeling of purpose that is absolutely wonderful,” Baudry said.

Baudry’s laboratory at UAH used a supercomputer to screen 50,000 natural compounds that might affect COVID. The computer found 125 candidates. Now, testing at the University of Tennessee says 35 of those are being studied now for possible medication ingredients.

“There is very good news on vaccine developments, and it is great,” Baudry said, “but it is important that we continue working on other pharmaceuticals. It’s a bit like for the flu, where there are vaccines and there are pharmaceuticals, and they work together, not against each other. And what we learned here will be priceless to respond to other similar crises, if and when they show up in the future.”

ORNL and its supercomputing technology are leading the international effort to find medications to fight COVID.

“We used some of [ORNL's] data, and we basically added value to it,” Baudry said. “Although it is unique in many ways – our focus on natural products, for instance – it is important to note that this project of ours is still integrated into the national COVID-19 research effort.”

The first of the 35 compounds still in play is now being tested in a biosafe Memphis laboratory directed by Dr. Colleen Jonsson.

“They use live virus infections of living cells grown in the equivalent of Petri dishes,” Baudry said. “The chemicals that will have a good profile can then be tested in animal models using mice.”

The Baudry lab’s work has already won one of five Hyperion HPC Innovation Excellence Awards, according to UAH. The awards recognize achievements by users of high-performance computers.

“Hyperion, the award sponsor, is the most respected group of industry experts in (high-performance computing),” Baudry said. “I was very surprised about the award because I didn’t not even know that we had been under consideration. I was both very happy and very humbled.”

Baudry has performed and led scientific research for 25 years and now holds the Mrs. Pei-Ling Chan Chair in the UAH Department of Biological Sciences. He said COVID has brought “incredible” cooperation and effort among scientists.

“This may be the most important experience of my professional life," Baudry said. "There is nothing we cannot do when we work together.”