June 26, 2020

COVID-19: Impact and Response

Purdue CVM Dean Dr. Willie Reed Co-Chairs Comprehensive “Protect Purdue” Effort

Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine Dean Dr. Willie Reed has Co-Chaired a comprehensive effort at Purdue University to develop a strategic response to the COVID-19 pandemic and develop science-based guidelines for safely reopening the university. Details of the university’s “Protect Purdue” plan can be found here.

Diversity & Inclusion On Air and the COVID-19 Pandemic

A series of “Diversity and Inclusion on Air” programs focused on COVID-19 and ways it is impacting the academic veterinary medical community are available on Soundcloud. Produced and hosted by AAVMC Senior Director for Institutional Research and Diversity Dr. Lisa Greenhill, the acclaimed program features a variety of experts in incisive conversation with Greenhill. Topics include “Anti-Asian Discrimination Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic,” “The Job Hunt and the Pandemic,” “Student Wellbeing and the Pandemic,” and “The Pandemic, the Economy and Diversity.” Listen to the series here.

Capitol Hill and COVID-19

The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee heard expert testimony on June 23 at a hearing, “COVID-19: Lessons Learned to Prepare for the Next Pandemic.” There were several recommendations from the witness panel, among them a recommendation for sustained, robust funding in public health. The hearing followed the release of Committee Chair Lamar Alexander’s (R-Tenn) white paper, “Preparing for the Next Pandemic,” outlining five recommendations to address future pandemics, including accelerating research and development and maintaining strong investments in NIH. The HELP committee asked for stakeholder feedback submitted to PandemicPreparedness@help.senate.gov by today, June 26. AAVMC asked our research committee members to consider submitting comments to the Committee.

NAHLN Funding and HEROES Act

The AAVMC signed onto a letter led by the Animal Agriculture Coalition (AAC). The letter requests that the Senate support the $300 million appropriation for the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) contained in the House HEROES Act. This funding is critical as animal health labs at many of our institutions are now being used to do human COVID-19 testing.

From Our Members

Seven Penn Vet Researchers Receive COVID-19 Pilot Awards

Researchers Across Tufts Pivot to Fight COVID-19

Why Is There a COVID-19 Gender Gap?

Fast COVID-19 Vaccine Timelines are Unrealistic and Put the Integrity of Scientists at Risk

In the News

What if All Viruses Disappeared?
BBC

Going Back in Time for an Antibody to Fight COVID-19
Nature

Texas A&M Scientists Call for Bipartisan Investigation into COVID-19 Response Failures
Dallas Voice

New Project Aims to Track Coronavirus Using Human Waste
Medical News

COVID-19 Vaccine Studies Give Us Hope, but a Vaccine May Not Happen This Year
Yellowhammer

People Probably Caught Coronavirus from Minks. That’s a Wake-up Call to Study Infections in Animals, Researchers Say
Washington Post

Group Testing Could Screen Entire US, Research Suggests
MedicalXpress

Researchers Focus on COVID-19 Virus in Animals
JAVMA News

Note: This compilation is now being produced and circulated on a bi-weekly basis.