THE Dunfermline scientist at the forefront of efforts to develop a lifesaving coronavirus vaccine says her fears for her own family are helping drive her in her pursuit to find a cure as soon as possible.

Mum-of-two Dr Kate Broderick is leading a team at US-based pharmaceutical giant Inovio, in San Diego, California, and is working around the clock to have a DNA vaccine ready by December.

The former St Columba's High School pupil said: “My husband, Steve, is immune-compromised, so we have to be uber careful.

"It means that the kids are very much aware about my work.

"They know why mummy’s not around as much as I’d want to be right now.

“What worries me is that I don’t think we understand the anxiety this crisis is causing for kids all over the world, especially in families with loved ones who have underlying health issues."

Speaking about about her family in Scotland, Kate added: "My sister’s actually a nurse for the NHS at the Queen Elizabeth in Glasgow and she’s certainly hoping we can help get that vaccine out there as soon as possible.

“I must admit that I got quite emotional watching all the people clapping on Twitter for the NHS.

"I think the NHS is woven into our being in the UK and I thought it was such a lovely gesture that medical staff got that show of public support.

“My sister has been very worried going onto the wards. She’s been treating several positive patients and she is genuinely worried about coming home at night and was saying that she has been trying to get out of her uniform in the back garden before stepping into the house.”

Kate is delighted that the UK Government has announced it's contributing £210 million to boost the speed of creating a vaccine.

The UK is now the leading contributor to the international fund to find a coronavirus vaccine and Kate says that it is a significant step in the global effort to rolling out a vaccine.

The 42-year-old Glasgow University graduate said: “I am really proud that the UK Government has made this absolutely phenomenal gesture and I think that really says a lot about how seriously Boris Johnson is taking the pandemic.

“The fact that the UK Government has made such a generous donation will hopefully encourage other countries to follow their lead.

“Tragically, there are so many people dying around the world every day from coronavirus, so every day counts.

“The reality is that vaccine development costs money and it takes time, but you can do it faster if you have more funding.

“Every investment helps bring forward the date that the vaccine is ready and can save countless lives.”

The total amount of UK aid spent fighting coronavirus now stands at £544 million.

The UK, along with many other countries, is channelling funding to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), and the UK has already gone beyond its share by committing £250 million to CEPI to date.

Kate added: “I must admit I woke up on Friday morning and the first thing that I saw on my phone was that Boris Johnson had tested positive.

“It is shocking, but it doesn’t surprise me, because the number of people infected is probably a lot higher than the reported figures and I think this just shows that anyone can be tested positive.

“This virus is indiscriminate so it doesn’t matter who you are, you can catch it."

International Development Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan said: “This UK Government support will be vital in efforts to find a coronavirus vaccine and treatments, which will ultimately help stop its spread around the world.

“We are backing experts, including in the UK, to find solutions as quickly as possible to this pandemic. This will ultimately help us to save lives in this country.”

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