Philip Ball, is a freelance science writer. He worked previously at Nature for over 20 years, first as an editor for physical sciences (for which his brief extended from biochemistry to quantum physics and materials science) and then as a Consultant Editor. His writings on science for the popular press have covered topical issues ranging from cosmology to the future of molecular biology. (https://www.philipball.co.uk/bio) YouTube and Slides.

Miriam Rafailovich, Department of Materials Science, SUNY at Stony Brook. Title:  viral infection and initiation of thrombosis. Abstract: The conformation of fibrinogen on hydrophobic surfaces is shown to initiate fibrillogenesis and non-thrombogenic clots. Even though endothelial cells are not easily infected,  non-thrombogenic clots are shown to form after exposure of the cells to conditioned media from epithelial cells infected with H1N1 and OC43 encapsulated RNA viruses. Inflammatory factors secreted from infected epithelium is believed to be responsible for damage to the endothelium, initiating opening of the fibrinogen alpha-C domains initiating  fibrillogenesis. Blocking the terminus of the alpha-C domains with a 12 amino acid peptide, prevents fibrinogen fiber formation, which may suppress spontaneous clot formation associated with viral infection. YouTube and Slides.