The global pandemic has presented challenges for businesses worldwide, yet the technology sector has responded with innovative efforts, as highlighted by discussions at Disrupt 2020. However, the focus of technology has been on providing support to essential workers and addressing the crisis, rather than attempting to directly “resolve” the complex issues it created.

During a panel discussion, the founders of healthcare technology companies Color and Carbon Health shared their strategies, emphasizing the adaptability and resilience inherent in a startup approach.

Othman Laraki, CEO of Color, explained, “I believe we’re witnessing the decentralized nature of the United States, where individuals recognize the need to proactively develop solutions when waiting for external assistance isn’t feasible, and they begin building those solutions themselves.”

His organization addressed obstacles within the COVID-19 testing process, determining that strategic adjustments could yield significant improvements.

“We identified several resources we could utilize,” he stated. “We chose to create a platform to overcome logistical and supply chain limitations related to COVID testing. We successfully established a large-scale COVID testing laboratory and also adapted our existing digital platforms for COVID testing… Currently, we handle approximately 75% of all testing conducted in San Francisco.”

Eren Bali, CEO of Carbon Health, pointed out that companies like theirs serve as crucial support systems when the nation’s medical infrastructure is strained.

“While the U.S. may not have an optimal public health system, we possess leading private companies capable of operating with greater efficiency than governmental organizations,” he noted. “We recently launched a program to facilitate the swift recovery of COVID-positive patients, including a rehabilitation component. It’s important to remember that even after surviving the virus, the body can experience lasting effects.”

The availability of at-home care has become increasingly vital, both to alleviate pressure on hospitals and healthcare professionals and to broaden access to necessary resources.

“Often, the cost of care is less of a barrier than accessibility,” Laraki observed. “For example, if an hourly worker needs to spend an hour traveling to an appointment, that represents a significant obstacle to receiving healthcare.”

Robotics offer another avenue for remote assistance, ideally suited for tasks described as “dirty, dull, and dangerous.” Given the current circumstances, many jobs now fall into these categories, prompting requests for Boston Dynamics to adapt its Spot quadrupedal robot for COVID-related applications.

“As the pandemic progressed, we received inquiries about remote patient vital sign monitoring, which was unexpected,” said the company’s new CEO, Robert Playter, in an interview. “We are also collaborating with companies on disinfection payloads, enabling Spot to navigate facilities while dispersing aerosol materials.”

“We responded quickly, driven by a sense of responsibility to contribute positively to the community and society,” he explained. “People are realizing the value of having a physical presence remotely, and this may be more important than previously imagined. We’ve always envisioned robots operating in hazardous environments. However, the definition of ‘danger’ has evolved due to COVID, and this has broadened people’s perspectives on the potential applications of this technology.”

There is widespread hope for a breakthrough from the biotechnology sector, and while that outcome isn’t guaranteed, CRISPR—a powerful biological technology—is being applied to the pandemic, with potentially greater significance for future outbreaks.

“This presents an opportunity to leverage a technology inherently designed for virus detection—that’s CRISPR’s function in bacteria—and repurpose it as a rapid diagnostic tool for coronavirus,” stated Jennifer Doudna of UC Berkeley, a key figure in the development and advancement of the technology.

She explained that because it detects the virus directly, rather than antibodies or immune response remnants, a CRISPR-based test could be both faster and more precise:

“Our laboratory findings indicate that this approach allows for a quicker signal and a signal more directly correlated with the viral load.”

While adapting this technology for the current pandemic is unlikely, it holds considerable promise for managing future outbreaks.

“It’s a versatile toolkit with numerous repurposing possibilities,” she said. “Scientists can easily reprogram the CRISPR system to target different sections of the coronavirus, ensuring that emerging viral mutations are not missed. We are currently developing a strategy to simultaneously detect influenza and coronavirus, which is crucial, and to rapidly adapt to new viruses as they appear.”