The Scientist checks in on scientists who switched gears to combat the pandemic.
Jul 1, 2021
ABOVE: Three versions of one of the ventilator models developed by Alher Mauricio Hernandez’s team at the University of Antioquia
ALHER MAURICIO HERNANDEZ
While no single idea or approach has successfully spelled the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, many scientists—including some with no previous experience in virology, medicine, or public health—have changed focus to try to fill needs they saw in the response to the virus.
Last July,
The Scientistreported on some of these efforts: a project to design low-cost ventilators for manufacture in Colombia, a device to detect SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater, a volunteer network to assist fellow researchers, and a homegrown COVID-19 test in India. A year later, we catch up with some of the organizers of these projects for an update on how their work is going.