Rapid COVID-19 testing: briefing and virtual tour

On September 22, 2020, the Office of Federal Relations presented a briefing and virtual tour on UW–Madison’s work to develop rapid tests for COVID-19. The briefing featured UW–Madison faculty David O’Connor, Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the School of Medicine and Public Health, and Tom Friedrich, Professor of Pathobiological Sciences at the School of Veterinary Medicine, and was hosted by Kelly Tyrrell, UW–Madison’s Director of Research Communications.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, access to testing and quick results remains a hurdle for communities across the country. Studies show that frequent and repeated testing is key to identifying infected individuals, helping reduce community spread. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison have developed a simple rapid test using saliva that can identify the novel coronavirus in hours and may prove cheaper and less complicated than other common tests. Our virtual tour and conversation focused on the impact this test can have and how federal research funding is key to deploying this new technique. Watch the briefing above or on YouTube.