BMI Weekly News

May 4, 2020

News

•  Emergency financial support for students.  The Office of Student Financial Aid has established the WSU CARES Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund to assist students with urgent financial needs directly related to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus.  Applications are being accepted now.  Funds will be disbursed until they are exhausted.  Click the underlined text for further information.

•  A BMI faculty meeting will be held via Microsoft Teams this Thursday (May 7) at 11:30 AM.  Dean Schweitzer will join us.  A Calendar invitation with a link for the meeting will be forthcoming.

•  REMINDER: All personnel who have been authorized to enter Scott Hall to monitor labs or for other purposes are required to complete the employee daily screening procedure at https://forms.wayne.edu/covid-19-screening/.

•  Wayne State Researchers shift focus to COVID-19. https://go.wayne.edu/8a6a77  Click on: https://research.wayne.edu/coronavirus/research-listing for BMI researchers, Drs. Ladislau Kovari, Zhe Yang, Domenico Gatti, Phil Pellett and BMI Retreat faculty, Dr. Kezhong Zhang. 

 

COVID-19 Basic Research: 

Dr. Ladislau Kovari

Study Title: Discovery and development of direct-acting antivirals of SARS-CoV-2

Project Description: The research focus is in the area of pre-clinical discovery and development of antivirals for the treatment of COVID-19 that is caused by SARS-CoV-2. The goal of this research is to design and develop a series of small-molecule inhibitors targeting critical viral proteins required for virus replication and thus limiting, eliminating, or preventing SARS-CoV-2 infections in humans.

Dr. Kovari has submitted at least one proposal to NIH.

Dr. Zhe Yang

Study Title: A Quantitative Network Model for Coronavirus Cross-Species Transmissibility Prediction

Project Description: The goal of this project is to construct a quantitative mathematical model to predict coronavirus cross-species transmissibility. Our hypothesis is that structure-based mathematical modeling of ACE2-Spike interactions at a species- and strain-wide level will provide a predictive framework for cross-species transmissibility, facilitating epidemic surveillance and identification of potential animal hosts.

Dr. Kezhong Zhang (CMMG/BMI Retreat)

Study Title: Mechanism of Cytokine Storm in COVID-19 Patients with Metabolic Syndrome

Description: We propose to define the compositions and dynamics of cytokine storm as well as complex and intertwined molecular events that contribute to cytokine storm in COVID-19 patients with metabolic syndrome.

COVID-19 Diagnostics:

Dr. Domenico Gatti 

Study Title: AI-imaging based prediction and follow-up of COVID19 infection outcome

Description: Artificial Intelligence (AI) methods will be used to evaluate various forms of medical imaging (X-ray, CT, MRI) as early indicators of COVID19 infection outcome, and of late complications.

 

And not listed at OVPR yet:

Dr. Philip Pellett (in collaboration with Dr. Jeffrey Ram)  

Study Title: Development of a community-based surveillance system based on detection of SARS-CoV-2 in pre-treatment sewage. 

Project Description:  In cities affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, SARS-CoV-2 genomes have been detected in raw sewage at levels as high as 10⁷ genomes per liter.  We are developing a system for monitoring SARS-CoV-2 and other infectious agents at major branch-points in metropolitan sewer systems to enable rapid detection of virus activity at the neighborhood level.  This will facilitate detection of virus activity and deliver targeted interventions in neighborhoods and communities that have limited access to healthcare.

•  Wayne State spinoff Advaita Bioinformatics identifies generic drug shown to be effective against COVID-19 https://engineering.wayne.edu/news     

•  Spring/Summer 2020 Course Announcement: Current Trends in Host-Microbiome Interactions (IM7650).  Course coordinator: Dr. Kevin Theis (ktheis@med.wayne.edu; 313-577- 9746) Course registration number: crn 38118.  See attached for course details.

•  Mail and Receiving Services Update: https://i.wayne.edu/view/5e7911fd0ed8e

Contact Receiving prior to picking up your order. Ctrl+Click on link for the complete details.