What is Care for, this new committee of scientists against Covid-19?

• Emmanuel Macron announced on Tuesday the installation of Care, the Research Analysis and Expertise Committee, at the Elysée.
• This new entity, which complements the work of the Scientific Committee, is made up of 12 researchers and doctors, and chaired by the Nobel Prize in medicine Françoise Barré-Sinoussi.
• Its role is to "look at what is technically possible, what is ready in the laboratories," said Minister of Higher Education and Research Frédérique Vidal.

“It is thanks to science and medicine that we will defeat the virus. Emmanuel Macron repeated it: in this period of health crisis, he wants to put scientists first. The Research and Expertise Analysis Committee (call it “Care”) thus joins the Scientific Council, which is already responsible for advising the President on the Covid-19 epidemic. What is the purpose of this second organ in the midst of an epidemic? Its applications are very concrete and should guide the crisis management of the executive and the post-containment that awaits us.

It is through science and medicine that we will defeat the virus. Today I bring together our best researchers to progress on diagnostics and treatments. Our research effort is fully mobilized in the fight against COVID-19.

Missions, objectives, members… What is Care for?

"The Care covers three main themes: therapies, diagnostics and, on another time scale, future vaccines", explains Franck Molina, researcher at CNRS and director of the UMR Sys2Diag in Montpellier. With him, eleven other doctors and volunteer scientists form this new council chaired by Françoise Barré-Sinoussi, 2008 Nobel Prize winner for his discovery of the AIDS virus.

The composition of the Analysis, Research and Expertise Committee (Care) chaired by Nobel Prize winner Françoise Barré-Sinoussi, hired to advise the government in the fight against Covid-19. pic.twitter.com/HPbLQnwxbq

"The purpose of this committee will be to advise the government on programs and doctrine relating to treatments, tests and backtracking practices, which identify people in contact with those infected with the virus", explains for its part the Elysée. The committee will thus follow the therapeutic studies carried out in France and abroad. Its role is also to "look at what is technically possible, what is ready in the laboratories," said Minister of Higher Education and Research Frédérique Vidal.

Objective also displayed: to echo scientific speech in times of crisis. "What would have been serious is that the scientists were not consulted," says Franck Molina. "Our role is not to say what must be done, it is to say what can be done, with the risks and drawbacks that this entails," explains the researcher.

What are its differences from the Scientific Council, which also advises the President?

The two councils do not work on the same fields. They have two distinct mandates, but their objectives are complementary. Care's mission? Bring a quick light on scientific, therapeutic and technological innovations and return its work within 48 hours to the Ministers of Health and Research.

His reports will "give scientific evidence to the Scientific Council, which is responsible for advising the President of the Republic," detailed Frédérique Vidal. It will also be responsible for managing the post-crisis, where the scientific council manages the crisis.

Concretely, what did they talk about at their first meeting?

Concrete proposals have been put on the table. At the end of the first Care meeting, Frédérique Vidal spoke on the debates. She mentioned in particular a voice recognition solution, which makes it possible to orient the management of a patient according to the way in which the person "speaks on the phone, which can reveal the seriousness of his pulmonary attack".

Frédérique Vidal (Minister of Research): "The role of this Care committee is to know what is technically possible and what is ready in the laboratories to fight against the coronavirus" pic.twitter.com/BopvU09bOu

“Field tests” were also mentioned, in contrast to laboratory experiments. These tests performed by the patient himself could be deployed on a large scale in France. They will also serve to "prepare for deconfinement, especially in very infected regions" to ensure that people who leave are not sick, adds Franck Molina, who works on these issues. “Field tests exist, some are soon finished, others are coming. We have to sort it out and quickly assess their feasibility, ”he adds.

Independence, meeting, powers… How does it work?

The first Care meeting took place Tuesday at the end of the day at the Elysée. The committee is expected to meet again very soon. Like the Scientific Council, Care provides an advisory opinion, which the president can choose to follow or ignore.

In an interview with Télérama magazine, Laëtitia Atlani-Duault, anthropologist specializing in epidemics, defended the committee's "independence". “Everyone must stay in their role. A yellow line must be drawn between political decision and scientific expertise (…) This is what makes us strong and this is what the government expects: free and critical scientists, "she explained. .

Why are some members on both committees?

Two members of the scientific committee are also members of Care: Yazdan Yazdanpanah, Infectiologist and epidemiologist at Bichat Hospital and Laetitia Atlani-Duault, anthropologist, expert at the United Nations and specialist in crisis management. "These are people who make the bridge between the two councils, who work on complementary issues," said a source familiar with the matter.

Is this advice likely to become sustainable after the Covid-19 crisis?

For the moment, no information has been given to this effect. "It's still a bit early to say," says a source, who recognizes, however, that this crisis could "launch a real reflection on the place of science at the heart of society". “We will certainly learn from it. "

Society

Coronavirus in Bordeaux: A “special Covid-19” cell at the CHU to respond to healthcare professionals

World

Coronavirus: With an "astronomical" number of cases and overwhelmed emergency doctors, New York is preparing for the worst

• Video
• Society
• Emmanuel Macron
• Coronavirus
• Covid 19
• Scientists