COVID -19 experts: Women leaders, antibody studies, teen dating, mail-in voting

Numerous experts from the University of Wisconsin–Madison are available to discuss the impact of COVID-19 and provide tips and information to help people navigate the challenges to their daily lives.

More experts can be found on the Experts page and in these tipsheets from July 3, April 28, April 14, April 3, March 27, March 23, March 17 and March 12.

NEW RESEARCH: STATES WITH WOMEN GOVERNORS HAD FEWER COVID-19 DEATHS

Alex Stajkovic, associate professor of management and human resources, just released the results of new research that found U.S. states with women governors had fewer COVID-19 deaths. His research grew from a broader interest in exploring whether women are more effective leaders than men during times of crisis and was conducted with co-author Kayla Sergent (PhD ‘18) of Edgewood College. More information here.

Stajkovic found that:

• Women’s leadership is associated with fewer COVID-19 deaths
• Women leaders express more empathy by relating to followers’ feelings and concerns
• Women leaders express more confidence in a brighter future.

Contact: Alex Stajkovic, astajkovic@bus.wisc.edu

NEW COVID-19 CLINICAL TRIALS WILL STUDY ANTIBODY APPROACH

In collaboration with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health and UW Health will conduct three clinical trials to test a new treatment and preventative for COVID-19.

The trials center around an “antibody cocktail” called REGN-COV2, which was created by the New York-based pharmaceutical company. The experimental antibodies in the cocktail are isolated from mice that have been given human-like immune systems, and from people who have recovered from COVID-19.

Regeneron selected UW Health as one of approximately 100 clinical trial sites in the U.S. Locally, the trials will be led by William Hartman, assistant professor of anesthesiology at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health and will involve between 30 and 50 study participants.

Contact: Emily Kumlien, Ekumlien@uwhealth.org

COUGHING VISUALIZATION ILLUSTRATES THE BENEFITS OF WEARING A GOOD MASK

Coupling function with fashion, cloth and home-sewn face masks are available in a variety of forms and fabrics. While experts underscore that wearing a mask is effective in helping to prevent the spread of COVID-19, not all masks — or the materials with which they’re made — contain virus particles equally.

In a new video, University of Wisconsin–Madison engineer Scott Sanders demonstrates how droplets from a cough escape from or remain inside masks of varying styles and materials.

A mechanical engineering professor who conducts much of his research through the UW–Madison Engine Research Center, Sanders uses lasers to characterize the way gases and particles behave in combustion engines. Read more here.

Contact: Scott Sanders, stsanders@wisc.edu

COVID QUESTIONS: ANTIBODY DISAPPEARANCE, TEEN DATING VOTING

UW-Madison experts answer COVID-19-related questions from the public.

UW-MADISON COVID-19 EXPERTS AVAILABLE

VIDEO INTERVIEW: MAIL-IN VOTING DURING THE PANDEMIC

In this week’s Badger Talks interview, Barry Burden joins us to talk about how the pandemic’s big push for mail-in voting is likely to affect the election.

Contact: Barry Burden, bcburden@wisc.edu

SCHOOLS DEBATE HOW TO REOPEN IN THE FALL

Malia Jones, an expert on population health science, is available to analyze the risks and competing priorities involved for school districts across the country as they make plans to reopen in the fall amid a continuing pandemic.

Contact: Malia Jones, malia.jones@wisc.edu

COPING WITH COVID-19-RELATED FEELINGS OF LOSS

Richard Davidson is the founder and director of the Center for Healthy Minds at Madison-Wisconsin.  He’s best known for his groundbreaking work studying emotion and the brain. On this edition of Badger Talks, he discusses how to deal with the loss we feel at this point in the pandemic.

Davidson looks at how to constructively think about the losses we face, how children might experience things, and his own personal practice.

Contact for Richard Davidson: Susan Jensen, susan.jensen@wisc.edu

A PEDIATRICIAN OFFERS TIPS ABOUT TALKING TO TEENS ABOUT COVID-19

Children and teens may need extra support from caregivers as they react to and work through the unique changes and challenges of life during an outbreak. This is especially true as COVID-19 cases across the country and communities create, implement and adjust restrictions.

“Teens may react to changes in a variety of ways. It is important for parents to support their child’s emotions without judgement,” says Amy Stockhausen, a UW Health pediatrician, adolescent medicine expert and professor of pediatrics at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health. “Parents can use this as an opportunity to help their child build empathy and resilience.” Read more here.

Contact: Emily Kumlien, Ekumlien@uwhealth.org