From COVID to the Next Crisis: Dr. Ben Neuman’s Virology Research Strengthens Our Pandemic Defenses

By: TAMU Biology

Ben NeumanWhen a novel coronavirus swept across the globe in 2020, Dr. Ben Neuman was already deep in the scientific trenches. As a virologist in the Department of Biology at Texas A&M University, Dr. Neuman has been studying viruses-how they evolve, spread, and impact human health-for decades. His expertise has made him a leading voice in virus taxonomy and pandemic response.

Dr. Neuman’s research focuses on how viruses are structured, how they infect hosts, and how our immune systems respond. He played a key role in early efforts to classify SARS-CoV-2, helping scientists around the world understand what they were dealing with and how best to fight it. Beyond COVID-19, his work spans a wide range of viral families, aiming to map the viral world and prepare for emerging threats. “People might be surprised to know that virus-hunting can be done in complete safety,” says Dr. Neuman, “People deposit new plant and animal genetics projects every day, and we pore through them looking for scraps of virus genetic code.  Viruses are so abundant, that it’s rare to find a dataset without at least a little snippet of virus in it.”

3D rendering of virusWhy It Matters
The COVID-19 pandemic showed just how deeply viral diseases can affect daily life-disrupting health systems, economies, and communities. Dr. Neuman’s research doesn’t just help us understand current viruses; it helps shape the strategies, diagnostics, and treatments that protect us during the next one. His contributions also inform global virus classification systems that guide research, surveillance, and public health policy. As Dr. Neuman states, “Science is a slow, careful process, so we try to work ahead, and spot new viruses before they become a problem.  Viruses are nature’s tiniest terrors, and also the stuff that keeps biology churning.  The world belongs to viruses – you and I just live here.”