April 24th, 2020
It’s been another busy week. Those of you who had a chance to view the weekly video update from Dean Goldman will have noted that he highlighted the University’s redeployment and volunteerism efforts, and Donna Lynn (Chief Operating Officer of CUIMC) specifically mentioned effort folding scrubs and performing other volunteer work at NYP Hospital. That was us!!!
This week we successfully launched two new projects, supporting the Institutional Biosafety Committee (P20) and the Precision Genomics Laboratory (P22). We now have two new efforts lined up and ready to go:
Project Summaries
Project 1 - IRB
We are exhilarated to inform you that Project 1 is just as smooth and boring as last week. That’s a good thing! The database construction is complete and we are simply assisting with routine updates. (Updates for this project will pause until something changes.)
Project 3 - Mask Reutilization:
Our mask reutilization project is taking an exciting new turn! Expanding from NYP alone as a target, we are turning our focus to educating the greater public together with EH&S and our new faculty advisor Elizabeth Hillman. With our re-entry to public life on the horizon, it is vital for everyone to know what the important features of a mask are, how to wear it and how to sterilize an N95 at home. To form a solid scientific basis for the advice we’re giving, there will be initial phases of literature review and experimental testing of variables such as air flow, fit and decontamination. Once recommendations are established, a science communication team will publish recommendations with easy-to-understand graphics, leaflets and videos.
We are looking for two teams of volunteers. One will research at-home sterilization methods and develop best-practice recommendations, while the other will serve as a media communication team. Apply here.
Project 4 - Biobanking: The biobank team has steadily been processing samples and generated 5550 vials from thousands of patients since our last update, totaling 14500 vials of serum, plasma and buffy coat. Over the past two weeks we have experienced a slight decrease in the volume of samples we are receiving, which agrees with epidemiologic evidence that suggests that several neighbourhoods of NYC have already peaked in the number of new cases and hospitalizations. However, our overarching goal is to preserve as many samples as possible and to this end the Hod lab has purchased several new -80ºC freezers. New hires in our team: Jiani Liang, Dr. Ilenia Pellicciotta and Dr. Claudio Roque.
Project 5 - Rapid response: The rapid response team continues to serve on-call to assist CUIMC Research Operations in the event of equipment failures. If you encounter a freezer, LN2, incubator, or similar equipment failure, please do the following:
Contact CU Facilities Compliance to request access to a backup freezer at 212-305-8100, via Public Safety. Provide the name, UNI, and contact number of the lab manager responsible and the location of the failed freezer.
Follow-up the call with an email (24/7) to [email protected]
The lab manager’s ID badge will be activated for access to the backup freezer location.
Project 7 - Serological Testing: Our team of 14 volunteers is now fully-trained and started testing blood samples for antibodies this Monday. Say hello to Barbara, Christopher, Danielle, Florence, Hui, Ilenia, Irina, Jaya, John, Neda, Panos, Rebecca, Steve, Steven & Tian.
Eldad Hod gave the whole team a big, well-deserved shout-out during his talk at the virtual COVID-19 symposium this Wednesday. He’s immensely grateful for your help and so are all of us.
Project 8 - Research Database: Database beta-UI is launched and accessible by admin, officers, and faculty here. We are now maintaining a constant flow of data updates and looking to develop additional features to the current iteration of the database. In the not-so-distant future, we will be thinking about database v2.0 with many more matching functionalities!
Project 9 - Symposia: CRAC Teams is continuing to assist with organization of the weekly virtual COVID-19 symposium at Columbia, in collaboration with Drs. Andrea Califano, Andy Marks and Eric Greene. We had our fourth consecutive meeting this week, with over 1000 registrants! You can check out this and past weeks’ presentation videos here. If you work on COVID-19 related research we encourage you to sign up to speak! Sign up here.
Project 11 - Hospital Assistance: Over the course of these past two weeks, our 77 volunteers have put in over 1900 hours of hospital assistance, and over 100 hours helping at field hospitals!
Project 18 - Transplant Database: Our team had a productive week making contact with Northwestern collaborators. Right now, they are waiting for the complete codebook to be finalized before editing and testing the system.
P19 - NYP Clinical Pharmacy: The NYP Clinical Pharmacy is still looking for help to assist with the increased volume in medication needs and deliveries. They have updated the requirements for volunteers so that we are now able to accept pharmacists without a PharmD. Apply here.
P20 - Institutional Biosafety Committee: Our three brand new team members Yalda, Ali and Jenny launched the project and are now coordinating to assist the IBC in reviewing a large volume of biosafety protocols.
P21 - CCU Data Handling: The external advisor is putting together a team that includes CRAC volunteers to automate the process of data formatting and reporting for the Cardiac Care Unit. Our volunteers are diving into this critical task now!
P22 - Precision Genomics lab: This project was launched earlier this week by Minjoo Kim and today was her first day of transferring blood samples for DNA extraction. 162 samples transferred and counting!
As always, I want to thank all of our incredible volunteers, officers, and managers who have made such incredible contributions to our University and our community. On a personal note, I entered my laboratory today for the first time in a month and a half. When I glanced out the window of my office, this is what I saw posted in a residential building directly across from our research lab.
The bottom is hard to read, but it says, "We are thankful for you. Keep pushing! This little note of encouragement truly lifted my spirits. And don't worry, we will keep pushing.
It’s been another busy week. Those of you who had a chance to view the weekly video update from Dean Goldman will have noted that he highlighted the University’s redeployment and volunteerism efforts, and Donna Lynn (Chief Operating Officer of CUIMC) specifically mentioned effort folding scrubs and performing other volunteer work at NYP Hospital. That was us!!!
This week we successfully launched two new projects, supporting the Institutional Biosafety Committee (P20) and the Precision Genomics Laboratory (P22). We now have two new efforts lined up and ready to go:
- We are looking for pharmacists to assist Columbia in managing orders and dispensing medication. More information and the application form
- We are adding experimental and outreach components to our mask reutilization effort and are looking for managers and team members for three sub-teams. These roles involve developing and communicating mask sterilization techniques for home use. Apply here.
Project Summaries
Project 1 - IRB
We are exhilarated to inform you that Project 1 is just as smooth and boring as last week. That’s a good thing! The database construction is complete and we are simply assisting with routine updates. (Updates for this project will pause until something changes.)
Project 3 - Mask Reutilization:
Our mask reutilization project is taking an exciting new turn! Expanding from NYP alone as a target, we are turning our focus to educating the greater public together with EH&S and our new faculty advisor Elizabeth Hillman. With our re-entry to public life on the horizon, it is vital for everyone to know what the important features of a mask are, how to wear it and how to sterilize an N95 at home. To form a solid scientific basis for the advice we’re giving, there will be initial phases of literature review and experimental testing of variables such as air flow, fit and decontamination. Once recommendations are established, a science communication team will publish recommendations with easy-to-understand graphics, leaflets and videos.
We are looking for two teams of volunteers. One will research at-home sterilization methods and develop best-practice recommendations, while the other will serve as a media communication team. Apply here.
Project 4 - Biobanking: The biobank team has steadily been processing samples and generated 5550 vials from thousands of patients since our last update, totaling 14500 vials of serum, plasma and buffy coat. Over the past two weeks we have experienced a slight decrease in the volume of samples we are receiving, which agrees with epidemiologic evidence that suggests that several neighbourhoods of NYC have already peaked in the number of new cases and hospitalizations. However, our overarching goal is to preserve as many samples as possible and to this end the Hod lab has purchased several new -80ºC freezers. New hires in our team: Jiani Liang, Dr. Ilenia Pellicciotta and Dr. Claudio Roque.
Project 5 - Rapid response: The rapid response team continues to serve on-call to assist CUIMC Research Operations in the event of equipment failures. If you encounter a freezer, LN2, incubator, or similar equipment failure, please do the following:
Contact CU Facilities Compliance to request access to a backup freezer at 212-305-8100, via Public Safety. Provide the name, UNI, and contact number of the lab manager responsible and the location of the failed freezer.
Follow-up the call with an email (24/7) to [email protected]
The lab manager’s ID badge will be activated for access to the backup freezer location.
Project 7 - Serological Testing: Our team of 14 volunteers is now fully-trained and started testing blood samples for antibodies this Monday. Say hello to Barbara, Christopher, Danielle, Florence, Hui, Ilenia, Irina, Jaya, John, Neda, Panos, Rebecca, Steve, Steven & Tian.
Eldad Hod gave the whole team a big, well-deserved shout-out during his talk at the virtual COVID-19 symposium this Wednesday. He’s immensely grateful for your help and so are all of us.
Project 8 - Research Database: Database beta-UI is launched and accessible by admin, officers, and faculty here. We are now maintaining a constant flow of data updates and looking to develop additional features to the current iteration of the database. In the not-so-distant future, we will be thinking about database v2.0 with many more matching functionalities!
Project 9 - Symposia: CRAC Teams is continuing to assist with organization of the weekly virtual COVID-19 symposium at Columbia, in collaboration with Drs. Andrea Califano, Andy Marks and Eric Greene. We had our fourth consecutive meeting this week, with over 1000 registrants! You can check out this and past weeks’ presentation videos here. If you work on COVID-19 related research we encourage you to sign up to speak! Sign up here.
Project 11 - Hospital Assistance: Over the course of these past two weeks, our 77 volunteers have put in over 1900 hours of hospital assistance, and over 100 hours helping at field hospitals!
Project 18 - Transplant Database: Our team had a productive week making contact with Northwestern collaborators. Right now, they are waiting for the complete codebook to be finalized before editing and testing the system.
P19 - NYP Clinical Pharmacy: The NYP Clinical Pharmacy is still looking for help to assist with the increased volume in medication needs and deliveries. They have updated the requirements for volunteers so that we are now able to accept pharmacists without a PharmD. Apply here.
P20 - Institutional Biosafety Committee: Our three brand new team members Yalda, Ali and Jenny launched the project and are now coordinating to assist the IBC in reviewing a large volume of biosafety protocols.
P21 - CCU Data Handling: The external advisor is putting together a team that includes CRAC volunteers to automate the process of data formatting and reporting for the Cardiac Care Unit. Our volunteers are diving into this critical task now!
P22 - Precision Genomics lab: This project was launched earlier this week by Minjoo Kim and today was her first day of transferring blood samples for DNA extraction. 162 samples transferred and counting!
As always, I want to thank all of our incredible volunteers, officers, and managers who have made such incredible contributions to our University and our community. On a personal note, I entered my laboratory today for the first time in a month and a half. When I glanced out the window of my office, this is what I saw posted in a residential building directly across from our research lab.
The bottom is hard to read, but it says, "We are thankful for you. Keep pushing! This little note of encouragement truly lifted my spirits. And don't worry, we will keep pushing.