Disease Research Leads in Colorado
Scientists around the world are racing to find a vaccine or treatment that will hinder the coronavirus harmless, each taking a unique trajectory.
In Colorado top agriculture and animal research is leading the way toward potential breakthroughs. Colorado State University VP for Research Alan Rudolph.
“We study the immunological profile of the virus and the host or host response in animals to better understand the immunological profile and try to translate that to humans. There is research on immunology in animals that we’re doing. The other thing that the animal community is aware of is that alpacas are used to create thermostable antibodies for use in the current Covid response. In fact we’re doing that research at CSU on alpacas to explore whether they can produce stable antibodies against disease. There are other groups looking at how to create smiliare types of reagents that could be used in the Covid response using the immunological response from animals.”
Nearby CSU engineers and infectious disease researchers have been developing a low-cost sprayable disinfectant that kills the virus that causes COVID-19 – and that can be brought to market quickly working with a design firm in Ft. Collins. The technology deactivates the virus by rendering it incapable of replicating. Local researchers are using similar technology to develop a vaccine for the disease.
Dr. Rudolph says CSU’s Infections Disease Research and Response Program is allowing researchers to quickly take their ideas and put them into practice.
