Collaboration resolves the supply problem

Biomedical engineers and architects at the University of Miami 3D-printed 1,000 nasopharyngeal swabs a day this past year, doing their part to help maintain the stockpile of these crucial tools that are being used by the tens of thousands at hospitals, community health clinics, and drive-through test sites each week. The six-inch-long, skinny, flexible plastic stick, which is inserted into the nasal cavity, remains the primary diagnostic tool used to test for COVID-19.

The team, including James Lai, who completed a biomedical engineering degree at the University in May and is currently in his first year of medical school at the Miller School of Medicine, pivoted its strategy in the fall after not receiving FDA approval for its initial design. Working with University and health system administrators and faculty members, Lai secured an FDA-approved design license that enabled the University to print much-needed nasopharyngeal swabs in-house—648 swabs every 11 hours. “The supply chain was thankfully restored. But it was still a huge collaboration, and we now have the ability to print swabs, if need be,” said Lai. “I felt empowered that the University and my professor took me seriously and provided the support I needed to do this project,” he noted.

Crisis accelerates innovation

University experts say the COVID-19 pandemic is encouraging the next revolution in computing and discovery, with more to come. Many of the innovations are destined to transform how we do business and almost every other facet of life—from how we communicate, educate, recreate, and entertain to how we seek medical care, design new homes, and perhaps even choose with whom we live. From telehealth advances, treatment options, and contact tracing in the health care sector to blockchain technology and artificial intelligence integration, University experts agree that the pandemic has opened new doors for research and implementation. Geoff Sutcliffe, a computer science professor, adds that amid the unfortunate tolls, the pandemic has some silver linings. “We are privileged to be living through an industrial revolution, with computing at the core of it,” he says. “Suddenly, this is how we do life, and it will change our economic lives completely.”

Medical students address pandemic challenges

Throughout the pandemic, Amanda Nwaba, a Miller School of Medicine student, witnessed the many ways her peers were involved in battling COVID-19. In an effort to highlight their impact, she worked to gather and document their experiences and service. The stories she compiled include Alison Ohringer, a second-year student, who founded Miami Med COVID Help, a nonprofit that helps locate and provide PPE to doctors. Allison Kumnick, a fourth-year student, launched a podcast that aims to provide future students with information that could help them prepare for rotations and encourage them to prioritize their well-being and take time to reflect during challenging times. Henry Olano, a second-year student who began an internship during the summer with Rep. Donna Shalala, stressed the importance of civic engagement, especially from people in health care. “It helped me understand that what Congress needs is people who have these experiences to speak up,” he said.

Social equity drives community

Seven teams of University of Miami faculty members were awarded funding through the University’s Laboratory for Integrative Knowledge (U-LINK) social equity challenge to work on interdisciplinary projects that aim to elevate society’s awareness of racial inequities and develop timely solutions for addressing oppression and discrimination in all its forms. Among the projects, a team led by Anthony Alfieri, professor in the School of Law, evaluated fault lines in the health of our communities and developed community-centered solutions. Through the School of Law’s Community Equity, Innovation, and Resource Lab, existing relationships with community organizations in west Coconut Grove revealed that public access to health data for historically low-income, underserved communities in Miami is challenging. By collecting new data about human and environmental health conditions in this community, as well as offering outreach and education, the team works closely with local stakeholders to support law and policy reform campaigns at local, state, and federal levels.

Diverse suppliers shape business

From lifesaving medical equipment and PPE to sustainable paper and office supplies, the University of Miami’s purchasing and supply chain services departments oversee all bids, contracts, vendors, and suppliers to ensure each item purchased by the University and UHealth meets maximum standards of quality, value, service, and integrity. In an effort spearheaded by Brandon Gilliland, vice president and chief financial officer, the University is connecting with local and minority-owned businesses to create a pool of vendors and suppliers who may not have opportunities to promote their services on a large scale. “We recognize the importance of having a diverse supplier base that reflects the demographics of our community. The University’s supplier diversity program creates a more inclusive procurement environment with a network of minority-owned business partners,” said Beverly Pruitt, assistant vice president for workplace equity and inclusion.

Graduate student examines impact of racial socialization

Monique McKenny, a fourth-year counseling psychology doctoral candidate, explored cultural strengths of Black families and the communications between youth and caregivers about race and racial experiences. McKenny’s interest in racial socialization had been particularly salient for parents over the past year, as they determined how best to communicate with their children about racial justice issues that became a prominent part of the national conversation. With a passion for empowering Black families, McKenny hopes to help support the holistic health of youth as they cope with race-related stressors, including discrimination and biases. In addition to her clinical training and research, she also was selected to be a graduate assistant for the University’s Racial Justice Grant Program. McKenny hopes to continue working with youth and families and contributing to the research being conducted at institutions across the nation.

Cooperative seeks global solutions

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) once again selected the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science to host the Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies. The selection, made through an open, competitive evaluation, comes with an award of up to $310 million over five years, with the potential for renewal for another five years based on successful performance. The institute will conduct collaborative, multidisciplinary research that advances NOAA’s mission to improve our understanding of global, national, and regional weather, as well as climate and marine ecosystems. “Conducting relevant research is truly a key foundational cornerstone of the University of Miami,” said Jeffrey Duerk, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost. “And this cooperative institute will build on its legacy of highly successful research and infrastructure accomplishments from the previous cooperative institute.”

Component goes from the chemistry lab to the farm

In a breakthrough that one day might enable farmers to produce their own fertilizer from recycled waste, University of Miami chemists Carl Hoff and Burjor Captain have shown for the first time that it’s possible to convert nitrous oxide—also known as laughing gas—into potassium nitrate, a key component of the fertilizer needed to feed half the world’s population. Their discovery, for which they have applied for a patent, flips the century-old method of cleansing nitrous oxide (N₂O) on its head. Nitrous oxide is used in medicine for its anesthetic effects but threatens the ozone layer when emitted in industrial plants.