Science Spotlight: COVID-19

We are launching Science Spotlight to give voice to scientists “on the ground” during the COVID-19 crisis. Tune in and subscribe to our YouTube channel for candid updates from scientists actively engaged in COVID-19 research.

Check out this discussion with researchers Abby Stahl and Connor Tsuchida in CRISPR-pioneer Jennifer Doudna’s lab. Learn about their rapid progress building and implementing an automated SARS-CoV-2 testing facility at UC Berkeley.

Learn how the famous Doudna Lab transformed a genomics lab into a CLIA-certified SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics center at UC Berkeley in under 3 weeks. Two lead researchers joined us last week to share details. This new diagnostic lab expects to run ~1,000 tests a day using automation, vastly increasing testing capacity in the area. Learn first-hand about how to navigate CLIA and HIPAA requirements for COVID-19 testing at your institution, and about best-practices for collaboration that can result in a fast initiative of this scale.

Shortly after our interview, collaborators compiled resources for other labs to quickly set up SARS-CoV-2 testing labs. Access here: Blueprint for a Pop-up SARS-CoV-2 Testing Lab

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