Scientists honored for COVID-19 tracker, prenatal test

By MADDIE BURAKOFF
AP Science Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — A scientist who built a global COVID-19 website received this year’s Lasker award for public service. The Lasker Foundation, which gives out annual prizes for medical research, announced this year’s winners on Wednesday. The Johns Hopkins University researcher was honored for creating the website to track COVID cases and deaths worldwide, and sharing the information with the public. A biologist in Hong Kong won the medical research award for designing a prenatal blood test that can screen for Down syndrome without an invasive procedure. Three other scientists were recognized for their work on key immune proteins.