SALUVET-innova and SALUVET: COLLABORATING WITH COVID-19 LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS
The Complutense University of Madrid (UCM) has prompted the creation of a laboratory network in order to assist with SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus diagnosis in the current pandemic situation. The COVID-19-UCM network is formed by the Veterinary Health Surveillance Center (VISAVET), SALUVET-innova (Knowledge Transfer Partnership scheme), the research laboratories “Veterinary Health and Zoonoses” (SALUVET), “Antimicrobial Resistance Unit“, “Molecular Basis of Adaptation” of the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, the Genomics Unit of the Faculty of Biology, and the Center for Energy, Environmental and Technological Research (CIEMAT) of the Ministry of Science and Innovation, among others.
This initiative, promoted by Prof. Dr. José Manuel Bautista (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, UCM), has attracted interest from numerous volunteers, is supported by the University Rectoral Team, and is supervised by the Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII). In fact, the COVID-19-UCM network has been recently appointed as a “collaborating laboratory” by this Public Health Agency for the molecular diagnosis of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus by Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). As part of our commitment to the National Health System, the COVID-19-UCM laboratory network is expected to provide its diagnostic services in the Community of Madrid on a regular basis.
In addition, the team of researchers involved in this network is currently working on the development of new and fast molecular diagnostic methods to ease detection of positive patients and, therefore, perform appropriate preventive measures to limit the spread of the virus.
SALUVET-innova and SALUVET are making available their technical and human resources to the National Competent Authorities to tackle the spread of COVID-19. Now, more than ever #WeStopThisVirusTogether.