July 14, 2021
Illinois Researchers Advance COVID-19 Point-of-Care Technologies and Impact
Advances made by researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign are set to improve the ability to diagnose COVID-19 and other infectious diseases more quickly and at the point of care. The findings offer a new approach to viral detection that currently primarily rely on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests – the current gold standard for detecting COVID-19. The work is a collaboration between researchers from Carle Illinois College of Medicine and The Grainger College […]
May 19, 2021
Portable, affordable, accurate, fast: Team invents new COVID-19 test
A new coronavirus test can get accurate results from a saliva sample in less than 30 minutes, researchers report in the journal Nature Communications. Many of the components of the hand-held device used in this technology can be 3D-printed, and the test can detect as little as one viral particle per 1-microliter drop of fluid. “We developed a rapid, highly sensitive and accurate assay, and a portable, battery-powered device for COVID-19 testing that can be […]
April 16, 2021
Vaccine Advocacy PSA from Carle Illinois College of Medicine
Carle Illinois College of Medicine students are helping answer questions about and advocate for the COVID-19 vaccine through a new vaccine public service announcement (PSA). A Spanish version of the vaccine advocacy PSA can be found on YouTube and Illinois Media Space.
April 14, 2021
K-12 Shield Playbook offers guidance for reopening schools amid ongoing pandemic
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — A new resource is available to help guide teachers and school administrators as they reopen schools amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, assembled by researchers and experts at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. As vaccines for the virus that causes COVID-19 become more accessible, more communities and schools are reopening. However, no vaccines have been approved for children under 16 to date, leaving school districts with many questions to navigate as they reopen […]
April 5, 2021
Microscope that detects individual viruses could power rapid diagnostics, according to study led by Carle Illinois professor
A fast, low-cost technique to see and count viruses or proteins from a sample in real time, without any chemicals or dyes, could underpin a new class of devices for rapid diagnostics and viral load monitoring, including HIV and the virus that causes COVID-19. Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign described the technique, called Photonic Resonator Interferometric Scattering Microscopy, or PRISM, in the journal Nature Communications. “We have developed a new form of microscopy […]
March 2, 2021
U of I System receives FDA authorization for covidSHIELD test process
The University of Illinois System has received emergency use authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for covidSHIELD, its innovative saliva-based COVID-19 test that was used on the U of I campuses to hold the virus in check by utilizing widespread testing with rapid results. Under FDA guidelines, the EUA allows the U of I System to broadly expand its covidSHIELD testing beyond its universities. “The University of Illinois has been a […]
March 2, 2021
COVID-19 Saliva-Based Test Expands Reach to DC-area Universities, Baltimore schools
The COVID-19 saliva-based test developed by researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign will now be used in some Baltimore public schools and several universities in the Washington, DC area. American University and the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area partnered with UIUC researchers to establish and operate a new mobile lab with the anticipated capacity to process more than 50,000 tests per week. Andrew Flagel, president and CEO of the Consortium of […]
February 11, 2021
Carle Illinois students among first to receive both doses of COVID-19 vaccine
Carle Illinois’ College of Medicine students are among the first to receive both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Their clinical studies call them to be on the frontlines of healthcare, in most cases sooner than other medical programs. They are essential workers, and while they do not work directly with COVID-19 patients, they offer support for various efforts across the Champaign-Urbana community. Carle Illinois’ students began receiving the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in […]
February 5, 2021
Carle Illinois faculty member’s team develops low-cost, rapid COVID-19 antibody test
A research team led by Carle Illinois College of Medicine Professor Brian Cunningham has developed a rapid, low-cost COVID-antibody test. Researchers say the test could become routine in fighting the virus’ spread. “A simple, rapid, quantitative, and inexpensive test, using only a single droplet of blood, can contribute to enhanced public safety and reduced personal anxiety about immune status,” said Cunningham, professor at the Grainger College of Engineering and Carle Illinois. Cunningham supervised the research […]
