The pandemic is easing in the US, but still a serious threat around the globe. SIU researchers are looking at models that may help them predict what comes next for the COVID-19 pandemic. SIU Associate Professor Keith Gagnon, whose lab has been helping identify coronavirus variants throughout the pandemic, said he's hopeful about the future. But there are still risks, as much of the world lags behind the US in vaccinations. “The belief is that it's going to take maybe another year or so before it really dies down enough around the globe,” he said. “So while it continues to rage in other countries, it continues to pose a problem and a threat here, especially if a variant emerges that really can cause some reinfection issues.”