In this article, I will discuss my experience as a statistician involved in COVID-19 research in multiple capacities in the last two years, especially in the early phase of the pandemic. I will reflect on the challenges and the lessons I have learned in pandemic research regarding data collection and access, epidemic modeling and data analysis, open science and real time dissemination of research findings, implementation science, media and public communication, and partnerships between

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... government, industry and civil society. I will also make several recommendations on navigating the next stage of the pandemic and preparing for future pandemics.