Mount Oread Messenger: September 18, 2020

KU's ongoing COVID-19 research Email not displaying correctly? [View the web version]( [Mount Oread Messenger]( Good morning! Today I want to highlight a story I wrote earlier in September, about a week before the launch of this newsletter. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, colleges and universities across the United States have been at the forefront of researching COVID-19 and how to treat it. And in the craziness of trying to cover all of the seemingly constant changes to university policies related to the virus, some truly fascinating work behind the scenes can get overlooked. I wanted to look at the various aspects of COVID-19, medicinally and otherwise, that KU researchers are working to better understand. KU is a Level I research institution, so it's not necessarily a surprise that such interesting work is going on, but learning how quickly some of it came together was eye-opening. In today's feature story, you'll read about the following researchers and their work: - Susan Lunte, a distinguished KU chemistry professor, who is working with scientists at the University of Nebraska and Georgetown University to develop a point-of-care saliva test that can determine whether a person has antibodies against COVID-19. - Steve Soper, also a distinguished KU chemistry professor, who is working with a team to produce a microfluidic device that can quickly detect the presence of the actual COVID-19 virus. - Anthony Fehr, an assistant professor in KU’s department of molecular biosciences, who has studied different variations of coronaviruses for years and has four active projects related to COVID-19 that aim to find efficient ways to attack the virus. - Donna Ginther, the director of KU’s Institute for Policy and Social Research, who has focused her economics expertise on evaluating the actual state of Kansas’ economy and how it can recover. - Bill Staples, a professor emeritus of sociology and current director of KU's Surveillance Studies Research Center, who received a grant to study digital homelessness — or those without a reliable connection to internet and phone services — and its impact in a pandemic. That's it for this week. Thank you for reading, and I'll see you on Monday! [KU ISB Building]( [KU's research on COVID-19 exploring answers to questions on virus' impact both medically and beyond]( Researchers at KU are working to create COVID-19 rapid test kits and studying the virus at its most basic level to better understand how to attack it — but they're also looking at longterm economic impacts from an unprecedented pandemic and how a global health crisis impacts those without reliable access to necessary services like phones and internet connection. [Read the full story here]( IMAGE OF THE DAY [Drive-thru testing]( A new drive-thru COVID-19 test clinic sits in the parking lot of Naismith Hall, a normally private residence hall near Allen Fieldhouse that KU is leasing this year for those who must isolate or quarantine due to the respiratory virus. The clinic will use swab tests to detect COVID-19 rather than saliva, which KU used during its mass entry testing program. (Conner Mitchell/Journal-World) EVENTS TO KEEP AN EYE ON - Saturday, September 19: Second public meeting of KU's Task Force on Community-Responsive Public Safety, 1:30-3:30 p.m. ([Zoom information here]() This event is public, but will allow just one person at a time to meet with smaller sections of the task force and more privately share concerns. Other participants will be placed in separate waiting rooms. - Monday, September 21: Virtual town hall with KU's Task Force on Community-Responsive Public Safety, 5:30-7:30 p.m. ([Zoom information will be posted here]( at a later date) This event will be open to all members of the public and the entire 27-member task force. Currently it's the last publicly scheduled event before the group wraps up its work in November. IN OTHER KU NEWS [KU Athletics governing board approves financial restructuring plans, says it will operate with 14% less revenue in 2020]( The board overseeing Kansas Athletics on Wednesday unanimously approved two measures intended to shore up the department’s financial situation as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to strain revenue streams. [Jeff Long]( [2021 Kansas Relays postponed due to pandemic]( Citing financial obstacles created by the COVID-19 pandemic, KU Athletic Director Jeff Long said the move will save the athletic department $300,000, and said the annual April event likely would have cost more than usual due to virus testing protocols. [Kansas Relays]( If you enjoy the Mount Oread Messenger, you can [subscribe to receive it here.]( To reach Mount Oread Messenger author Conner Mitchell, please email cmitchell@ljworld.com or call 785-832-6388. Tips can also be submitted at [Conner's tip form]( or at his secure email address,[connermitchell@protonmail.com](mailto:connermitchell@protonmail.som). [subscribe to the lawrence journal-world here]( This message was sent by the Lawrence Journal-World. You are receiving this because at some point in the past you shared your email address with the Journal-World To opt-out of emails like this, click the link below. [Click here to unsubscribe and manage your email subscriptions.]( Lawrence Journal-World PO Box 888, Lawrence, KS 66044