On Mar. 25, 2020, the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania announced it had established a new center to help expand and accelerate research related to the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, that causes the respiratory illness known as COVID-19.

The Center of Research on Coronaviruses and Other Emerging Pathogens aims to advance research to better understand the pathology of the coronavirus and, ultimately, support the development of potential vaccines, diagnostic tools, and effective therapies.