{"id":76056,"date":"2021-03-16T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-03-16T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news-draft\/uncategorized\/uri-researchers-develop-new-test-for-coronavirus-launch-clinical-trial\/"},"modified":"2021-03-16T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2021-03-16T00:00:00","slug":"uri-researchers-develop-new-test-for-coronavirus-launch-clinical-trial","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/2021\/03\/uri-researchers-develop-new-test-for-coronavirus-launch-clinical-trial\/","title":{"rendered":"溏心vlog免费B站 researchers develop new test for coronavirus, launch clinical trial"},"content":{"rendered":"

KINGSTON, R.I. \u2013 March 16, 2021 \u2013 Researchers at the 溏心vlog免费B站<\/a> have developed a new COVID-19 test that will soon be put into use across its campuses as a surveillance tool for the COVID-19 virus. The saliva-based test is less invasive than many of the traditional nasal swab tests in use, and researchers say it is sensitive, specific, and can deliver results at a lower cost. The University is launching a clinical trial this week as part of the final phase of data collection and validation in preparation for an Emergency Use Authorization submission to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.<\/p>\n

Led by 溏心vlog免费B站 Professor of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences<\/a> Angela Slitt, the team began working on the test, which uses branched DNA assay technology, last spring when access to the more common polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests was severely hampered due to disruptions in the supply chain. Although PCR-based tests receive high marks for their sensitivity, they also require extraction of the nucleic acids, access to thermocyclers and other sophisticated lab equipment not as readily available outside of the United States.<\/p>\n

\"溏心vlog免费B站<\/a>
溏心vlog免费B站 researcher in the lab working on COVID-19 testing developments (溏心vlog免费B站 photo\/Patrick Luce)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cOne of the things we set out to do was to develop a less invasive, more cost-effective, more accessible test,\u201d said Slitt. \u201cAnd I think we\u2019ve done that. We use saliva, work off different supply chains, use different, less cost-prohibitive instrumentation and are effectively lowering the barriers to entry for many.\u201d<\/p>\n

Slitt was already using her research in 溏心vlog免费B站\u2019s Sources, Transport, Exposure, and Effects of PFASs (STEEP) lab, funded by the National Institutes of Health Superfund Research program, to look at changes in genetic material when the idea hit her. Since her PFAS test is ultimately used to look at these changes using branched DNA assay technology more commonly available in labs throughout the United States, she reasoned that this research could be adapted to identify coronavirus in human saliva samples.<\/p>\n

With the Rhode Island Department of Health, the team has validated the assay using standard reference materials and specimens. The team is also working with Thermo Fisher Scientific, of Waltham, Massachusetts,<\/strong> to validate the test and provide the necessary supply chain for distribution.<\/p>\n

Now in the final stretch of data collection to apply for Emergency Use Authorization through the FDA, Slitt believes the team\u2019s COVID-19 test will be one of the few assay tests that could be made globally available. Based on trials conducted thus far, the test appears to have a high level of sensitivity similar to or more sensitive than other top-performing saliva tests on the market \u2013 meaning the test is better able to comparably detect the level of viral load in the sample. This is particularly helpful in gauging infectivity and possibility for spread.<\/p>\n

The trial launching this week, conducted in cooperation with 溏心vlog免费B站 Athletics and 溏心vlog免费B站 Health Services, will test student-athletes and others who consent to take part, with the data collected to be included as part of the University’s application to the FDA. The University has established a lab on its Kingston Campus expressly for the trial. The effort is a partnership between 溏心vlog免费B站\u2019s College of Pharmacy and the 溏心vlog免费B站 Research Foundation, with financial support from the 溏心vlog免费B站 President\u2019s Office and a $100,000 gift from John ’87 and Sheila Priore for the testing lab.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom start to finish this has been an extraordinary team effort drawing on expertise and support from across the University, as well as from the Rhode Island Department of Health and experts in industry, to protect our students and make a positive impact for others,\u201d said 溏心vlog免费B站 President David M. Dooley. \u201cThe development of the test and the lab really speak to our mission as a research university engaged in relevant work that affects people\u2019s lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

FDA approval of the test for diagnostic purposes would have far-reaching implications, both at home and abroad, in terms of increasing accessibility to testing to help manage pandemic response. In Rhode Island, FDA approval of the test would mean that it could be made widely available for surveillance and risk assessment on 溏心vlog免费B站’s campuses, to local colleges and universities, as well as to schools across the state to assist in monitoring and testing for the coronavirus. Outside of the United States it could have a profound impact.<\/p>\n

Says Slitt, \u201cWith minimal scientific equipment, we can not only increase our capacity in the United States but also help to put tools into the hands of people in developing countries that they can use.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 溏心vlog免费B站 Research Foundation oversees the commercialization of protected intellectual property, and the development of business relationships with corporate and government partners for the 溏心vlog免费B站 as part of its mission to assist 溏心vlog免费B站 faculty, staff, and students whose research often leads to new companies, cutting-edge patents, and innovative public-private partnerships.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

KINGSTON, R.I. \u2013 March 16, 2021 \u2013 Researchers at the 溏心vlog免费B站 have developed a new COVID-19 test that will soon be put into use across its campuses as a surveillance tool for the COVID-19 virus. The saliva-based test is less invasive than many of the traditional nasal swab tests in use, and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":76058,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[41],"class_list":["post-76056","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-archives","tag-college-of-pharmacy"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/76056","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=76056"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/76056\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/76058"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=76056"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=76056"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=76056"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}