BCBP faculty member, Ron Swanstrom, is working together with other School of Medicine researchers across disciplines, to combat the COVID-19 virus.
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has swept through the entire world, causing thousands of deaths and life-altering changes in our communities. Within the UNC School of Medicine research community of 28 basic science and clinical departments and more than 50 centers, institutes, programs, and initiatives, many researchers are working tirelessly to provide knowledge that can impact the current COVID-19 pandemic and future pandemics.
current COVID-19 pandemic and future pandemics.
“UNC SOM is home to many world-renowned experts on infectious disease and virology,” said Blossom Damania, Boshamer Distinguished Professor and Vice Dean for Research at the UNC School of Medicine. “We are very appreciative of their collective ongoing clinical efforts and discovery research studies focused on understanding the biology, transmission, and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19. We are extremely grateful to the many clinicians that are working with patients on the frontline of this epidemic.”
Discovery and Diagnostic Research
Ron Swanstrom is the Charles P. Postelle, Jr. Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry with a joint appointment in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and is the director of the UNC Center for AIDS Research. In collaboration with Baric’s team, Swanstrom tested a candidate therapeutic NHC/EIDD-2801: a ribonucleoside with broad-spectrum antiviral activity that works by inducing mutations in the viral genome.
Many researchers are involved in discovery and diagnostic research at UNC for COVID-19.
Clinical Research
Many researchers are also involved in clinical studies related to COVID-19.
Read a list of researchers at UNC-CH involved in COVID-19 updated as of April 1, 2020 working tirelessly to provide knowledge that can impact the current COVID-19 pandemic and future pandemics, here.
News story courtesy of UNC Health.