“COVID-19 cannot be the grand finale for American research,” work at University of Rochester noted
BY JOHN LATINI, OPINION CONTRIBUTOR, The Hill
Washington D.C. - In many respects, the COVID-19 pandemic has felt never-ending. But thanks to the dedicated work of scientists and researchers across the country, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Vaccine development is the crowning achievement of scientific advancements made over the last year and speaks to the endurance of America’s research institutions when backed by federal funding.
At the University of Rochester, researchers developed a sensor that can detect a patient’s exposure to multiple viruses, including COVID-19, from a single drop of blood in under a minute. It’s the latest step in a project funded by the Department of Defense to create diagnostic technology that would equip clinicians with data on previous infections and potential immunities. If the sensors are approved for production, it could lead to the availability of diagnostic technology en masse, particularly in doctor’s offices and pharmacies, even after the pandemic is over.