|
We can all make a difference right now
Dear colleagues, community members, and friends,
The world is looking to science, including biomedical research, to address pressing global health challenges like COVID-19. Our Hokie community is rising to the occasion.
Over the past few weeks, we have worked swiftly to adjust our focus to align with Virginia Tech's proactive safety guidelines. Many of our faculty, staff, and students are teleworking and implementing online coursework to uphold social distancing while critical research operations here at the research institute and across campus continue to advance.
We are also taking extra measures to help our community and partners. Members of the Virginia Tech community, including the research institute, collected and donated hundreds of N95 masks and other personal protective equipment to our colleagues at Carilion Clinic, who are working at the front lines of this medical crisis.
Colleagues across campus are also developing new rapid high-throughput tests for the virus, and our colleagues in engineering are developing new processes to make and test masks, adapt ventilators, and manufacture necessary components in an effort to help address statewide shortages in testing kits, equipment, and medical supplies.
We all must step up and do our part to protect each other right now. I am thankful to be part of an innovative and dedicated team that is doing its best to help make a difference right now.
In the spirit of Ut Prosim,
Mike Friedlander, Ph.D.
Executive Director, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC
Vice President for Health Sciences and Technology, Virginia Tech
|
