Research

Grant arms UNC-Chapel Hill with technology to accelerate COVID-19 research

A game-changing grant in a global pandemic

A game-changing grant in a global pandemic

The Chan Zuckerberg InitiativeOpens in new window recently awarded a $433,000 grant to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) for laboratory equipment that will accelerate research to address the COVID-19Opens in new window pandemic, potentially saving lives. The equipment will go to the lab of Ralph BaricOpens in new window, PhD, the William R. Kenan Jr. Distinguished Professor of epidemiology at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public HealthOpens in new window. Researchers in the Baric Lab are on the forefront of developing COVID-19 treatmentsOpens in new window. This grant represents a new collaboration between the West Coast philanthropic organization CZI and UNC-CH in search of a global solution to the pandemic.

The grant covers the purchase of a “liquid handler” — a robotic arm that can pipette fluids much more quickly and accurately than humans can — and supporting instruments, including another robot that detects active virus particles in samples and a machine to sequence RNA. Together, these tools increase the rate of testing compounds by 20-fold.

Ramping up testing speeds development of effective treatment. When dealing with rapidly spreading disease, Baric noted, that speed saves lives.

“This wonderful example of philanthropy in the midst of an expanding pandemic demonstrates the importance of getting people involved at all levels,” said Baric. “It’s a global pandemic that has touched us all, and CZI is giving back to global communities. I thank them deeply and hope they continue to support both basic and applied research into COVID-19. Not only is the research team benefitting from this gift directly, but we’ve been able to collaborate with others that CZI has supported. For us, it’s a true game changer.”

Read the complete Carolina Story…Opens in new window

UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health Funding Priorities

Readers Also Viewed...

Rebecca Fry leans agains a shelf in the Fry Lab.
Faculty Support

Angling for Solutions

Rebecca Fry’s lab is one of the first to study the effects of prenatal exposure to toxic metals as it relates to the epigenome.

Portrait of Dean Nancy Messionnier
Faculty Support

Honored for Advancement of Medical Sciences

Dean Nancy Messonnier inducted into the National Academy of Medicine

Elderly women participate in an exercise class
Health

Moving Toward Better Cognition

New project seeks to pilot greater physical activity for older adults

Health

Showing Teens the Real Cost

Carolina researchers find that Real Cost anti-vaping ads are effective at discouraging youth from vaping

Portrait of Danyu Lin
Research

Crucial Study for Child COVID

New research makes the case for children’s COVID boosters

A doctor performs a sonograph
Global Impact

Making Ultrasounds Universal

Using the power of artificial intelligence to improve maternal health worldwide