Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

Feature Writer

B.Sc. Integrative Neuroscience, M.Sc. Psychology

Jocelyn Solis-Moreira graduated with a Bachelor's in Integrative Neuroscience, where she then pursued graduate research looking at the long-term effects of adolescent binge drinking on the brain's neurochemistry in adulthood. She is adept at translating and summarizing complex study findings in all medical fields with a particular interest in neurodegenerative diseases, cancer research, infectious diseases, and public health. As a freelance writer, her work spans from news articles and feature articles to evergreen explainers across many publications. Her overall goal is to make science accessible for all.

Articles from Jocelyn

Modeling study shows importance of contact tracing in preventing COVID-19 transmission

In the face of rising vaccination rates, untraced cases may increase the number of COVID-19 cases. A new study led by Choo-Yee Ting from Multimedia University in Malaysia found that contact tracing remains an important tool in mitigating coronavirus spread and subsequent infection.

3 Sep 2021

Could genetic variants in host cell receptors (ACE2) explain COVID-19 susceptibility among certain ethnic groups?

Led by Ioannis Karakikes of Stanford University, a new study suggests some hospitalized patients with COVID-19 contain ACE2 genetic variants that increase ACE2 expression. Some variants that altered ACE2 protein expression and binding affinity were more prevalent in people with European backgrounds.

30 Aug 2021

Does SARS-CoV-2 natural infection immunity better protect against the Delta variant than vaccination?

A new study from Israel suggests immunity gained after recovering from a previous COVID-19 infection is more protective against the new Delta variant than vaccine-induced immunity. Natural immunity was estimated to be about 13 times stronger than having two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

30 Aug 2021

Preliminary study suggests nitric oxide may be a potential treatment for COVID-19 respiratory failure

New research led by Devang K. Sanghavi of the Mayo Clinic in Florida, USA, suggests pre-intubation use of nitric oxide for patients with COVID-19–related hypoxemic respiratory may help reduce patients' mortality. Their findings show that inhaling nitric oxide in this patient population could reduce the need for future intubation and other invasive mechanical ventilation.

26 Aug 2021

German study shows high protection from COVID-19 in over 80s with Pfizer vaccine

A new observational study in Germany, recently published on the medRxiv* preprint server, found the Comirnaty vaccine to be 68.3% effective against COVID-19 for people over 80. In those fully immunized, the vaccine was found to be 73.2% effective in preventing hospitalization and 80.1% effective against death.

26 Aug 2021

Patients on dialysis show reduced antibody levels four months after COVID-19 vaccination

A new longitudinal study posted to the medRxiv* preprint server suggests vaccinated patients on chronic hemodialysis having waning immunity against severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants of concern. The German researchers found a drop in neutralizing antibody levels and T cell activity four months after receiving their second Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

24 Aug 2021

Study suggests algorithm may help optimize future COVID-19 vaccine design

Scientists predict the COVID-19 pandemic is on its way to becoming endemic. The rising spread of COVID-19 variants such as Delta has helped infect unvaccinated and some vaccinated individuals. COVID-19 vaccines continue to be the best way to protect against severe illness and death, but there may be a need for vaccines to protect against a specific variant.

23 Aug 2021

Small study suggests a mix-and-match COVID-19 booster produces robust antibody levels

In a small study published in the medRxiv* preprint server, people given a booster Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 shot showed elevated and robust antibody levels.

19 Aug 2021

SARS-CoV-2 vaccine efficacy is strongly correlated with antibody neutralization levels

All COVID-19 vaccines appear less effective when faced with variants such as Delta, according to a new medRxiv* study. However, the researchers suggest that booster shots may help improve immunity and protect against symptomatic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection.

18 Aug 2021

Study suggests Harmony COVID-19 assay is superior to laboratory-based tests

A new study suggests a new coronavirus test developed by scientists from the University of Washington and the Brotman Baty Institute for Precision Medicine produces faster and more sensitive results than conventional PCR tests to measure severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viral RNA.