Learning more about COVID-19 | Autonomous organ delivery | Orthopedic reconstruction

"From phones to cars to medicine, technology touches every part of our lives. If you can create technology, you can change the world."  Susan Wojcicki, CEO of YouTube

Today’s issue:

• Helping businesses
• Why are older people more vulnerable to COVID-19?   
  
• Poorly fitting face masks can double infection risk 
• Understanding how the virus is spread
• Autonomous delivery for organs
• $160M for Monogram Health
• Cyclotrons come to Grand Rapids
• New orthopedic surgical needle is patented
  

June 23, 2021

PANDEMIC INNOVATION

Image by PIRO4D from pixabay

Helping businesses affected by COVID-19

CLEVELAND, OH—Twelve health systems signed a joint $1 billion commitment to boost spending collectively on local, minority, women-owned small businesses and enterprises, most of which have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The list of health systems includes Cleveland Clinic, Spectrum Health (Grand Rapids), Henry Ford Health System (Detroit) and Bon Secours Mercy Health (Cincinnati).

Why are older people more vulnerable to COVID-19? 

ROCHESTER, MN—Older adults and those with chronic disease are more vulnerable to COVID-19. Researchers at Mayo Clinic and the University of Minnesota Medical School found that older people have more senescent cells (which allow the coronavirus to get into normal cells more easily).

Poorly fitting face masks can double infection risk

CINCINNATI, OH—The mask issue hasn’t gone away yet. Researchers at the University of Cincinnati have found that poorly fitting face masks greatly increased the risk of infection from airborne COVID pathogens. To determine how fit affects infection risk, researchers used CT scans of three different face masks attached to three differently sized dummy heads to measure the gap between the face and fabric. The findings indicate that poorly fitting masks can have substantial leaks around the face. Maybe something to think about during flu season?

Understanding how the virus is spread

COLUMBUS, OH—A study at Ohio State University used in-culture techniques to confirm SARS-CoV-2 transmission via cell-to-cell contact. The results will help better understand how SARS-CoV-2 rapidly spreads in the body.

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PUDDLE HOPS: HEALTH TECH

Fast Future has followed medical and tech news around COVID-19 from the beginning of the pandemic. We’re adding coverage to this report related to health care innovation to feature more advances across Fast Future Country. 

• COLUMBUS, OH—Enabled by JobsOhio and DriveOhio, a combination of manned and unmanned aircraft performed the first autonomous, multi-modal organ transport. The demonstration transported 3D printed kidneys and blood units from Ohio State University in Columbus to a local hospital in Marysville.

   

• NASHVILLE, TN—A startup that helps people identify chronic kidney disease sooner raised $160 million in a series B funding round led by TPG Capital. Monogram Health was founded just two years ago by Michael Uchrin, a former insurance executive.

• EAST LANSING, MI—Michigan State University welcomed two advanced GE PETtrace 890 cyclotrons to the Grand Rapids Innovation Park, making the facility one of the most modern in the world. The 12,000-square-foot radiopharmacy, when operating at full capacity, will support the growing diagnostic and therapeutic needs of thousands of cancer patients from West Michigan and around the country. 
  
  
• KNOXVILLE, TN—Two University of Tennessee-Knoxville alumni have patented a surgical needle designed to increase the speed and accuracy of whipstitching in orthopedic reconstruction surgeries, including ligament and tendon repairs.

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